Charmed Curses

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Charmed Curses

By Lady Geuna

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"..." speech

'....' thoughts

/.../ with italics means a flashback or a part of a flashback

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To Trust Your Allies

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"But I'm not happy really. I'm just scared, Ron. I finally have a family, but he might d-die, and there's nothing I can do to help." Harry's eyes darkened... "I swear... If anything or anyone hurts him... or worse, I'll... I'll kill them myself."

Harry Potter ~ Fanfiction "Charmed Curses", Found (Part 2), by Lady Geuna

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"Are you okay? Can you move?"

He had his eyes squeezed shut, his body wrecked with tremors and his head was pounding. 'Bloody Dementors-... ah!' The back of his neck flared with pain as a hand touched it. That hand quickly shot away, and the voice came back, as worried as ever.

"Sirius, can you hear me?"

'Of course I can,' he wanted to say, but instead a low whining noise came from his throat. Sirius' body hurt, his shoulder aching with waves of pain (Was it broken?). It hurt to breath. Sirius could even hear is own breath coming out in quiet gasps. That Dementor had really gotten him. They are much stronger, physically, than they might appear...

Sirius broke through the clouds of nausea and chill that had plagued him moments before, desperate to ride himself of the feeling; one that still haunted him from his years in Azkaban. Going through it again wasn't the most pleasant experience...

Lupin was bending over him, a hand resting gently on his head. 'Always so worried about me, Lupin?' Sirius wanted to laugh, but he soon found that Lupin was trying to examine him, lifting up his right eyelid and allowing cold air to sting bare eyeball. Growling, Sirius moved his head sharply (No too much though, even that slight movement was painful.), blinking away the cold as Lupin frowned at him. He could be such a frustrating man sometimes.

The last thing he remembered was Dementors... A silver creature... A wolf, maybe? Something like that, and...

'JAMES!!'

More of the fog had cleared from his mind and panic hit home. Or course. The reason he got hurt in the first place, why he attacked the Dementor. He was trying to help James. Sirius raised his head quickly, ignoring the pain, then he noticed he couldn't move his body. For a moment Sirius feared he had been somehow paralyzed before he realized there was something laying on him. And turned and saw...

James... All he could make out was a head of messy black hair. James was trying to hold onto him, even as he slept. Mentally, Sirius smiled affectionately. 'Always the hero, you bloody fool...'

A wave of nausea and dizziness it him, and Sirius could barely find it within himself to keep his head up. He grunted with effort, but in the end he had to lay his head on the ground, waiting for the feeling to pass. He felt cold.

While trying to will away his own discomfort and pain, Sirius didn't see as Lupin moved again and then spoke,

"I'm going to move him off you. You'll need to change into a human so I can check if you're okay. And chocolate is poison to dogs." Of course, chocolate. It would help ride him of these feelings. "It wasn't very smart to charge it like that, you could be dead right now.... But it you hadn't run ahead..." Sigh. "Feel lucky that thing didn't break your neck."

Sirius let out another low whine, gesturing his head as much as he could toward James. 'But what about James? Is he okay? Is he hurt?'

Lupin saw Sirius' reaction and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I think he's just in shock.... No, calm down! Stop moving! He's fine, Sirius. Just fast asleep." Lupin disappeared from view. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see him lifting James carefully. Sirius felt the weight leave him. He could breath a lot easier, too. Lupin laid James on his back, carefully adjusting his head so he was comfortable. For a moment, Lupin paused, as if he saw something on James' neck... Then he was moving again (Putting something in his pocket...?). After a moment of looking around, Lupin nodded solemnly toward Sirius. "Change."

Sirius did so. His body screamed in protest the whole while, but it was over quickly. He still felt ill and shivered as if from the cold, damp air, but of course this was only because of the Dementors. He was hardly even aware of Lupin checking him, poking him in the sides and shoulders. Sirius soon discovered that his left shoulder was badly bruised, and he hissed in pain. His neck was also just bruised, but both hurt terribly. "Stop it--" His words were cut off as a chunk of chocolate was shoved into his open mouth. He nearly choked in the process, but he managed to chew and swallow it.

He wanted to yell, but Lupin had already backed off, nodding. "You'll be fine," he said matter-of-factually, getting to his feet. "I need to check on Severus, he's not moving..."

But Sirius didn't care about that man (in fact, he'd totally forgotten about him). He cared about James. He turned, his eyes landing on James. He was really looking at his friend for the first time since they'd found him. Sirius' throat tightened.

The man would've appeared completely dead, a corpse, if it weren't for the tremor-like shivers that followed him even into unconsciousness. His chest lifted and fell, his breath coming out in shaky gasps. James' skin had become horribly white and damp with a cold sweat, his hair plastered to his forehead. He was dirty, disheveled, and...

"Blood," he said aloud, his voice barely a whisper, reaching out to examine James for himself. The man's round glasses were scratched and bent. Carefully, Sirius removed those glasses, finding that they were partially stuck there from the drying blood. Instead of fixing them he simply pocketed them for the moment, otherwise they might fall off and get lost... The blood... The sight and smell made Sirius even more nauseous than he already was. His heart was aching in a was that he couldn't explain in words. Memories and old guilt rising anew in his heart and mind. 'What's happened to him...? James.' "Remus, he's bleeding..."

There was a sudden pained gasped, probably from Lupin.

"It's mine."

Sirius tensed (That voice wasn't Lupin's...) and slowly looked back. 'No, not now...' But sure enough, the cold, bitter voice had originated for none other than Severus Snape. Sirius hadn't really registered the fact that the man had been there the whole time, but now he knew very well...

Lupin must've been checking him for injury as well, because Snape was holding his friends wrist in a tight grip. His fingers were practically digging into Lupin's flesh. Lupin was flinching as if in pain, his teeth gritted, which practically made Sirius' blood boil. But before Sirius could voice his thoughts Snape gave a grunt of disgust, releasing Lupin roughly and started to stand. "I should've known you all would do something like this. All those pranks. You're all Animagus, aren't you? Besides the werewolf." He shot a cold sneer at Lupin, who was rubbing his wrist tenderly, but otherwise seemed unaffected by his cruel words. "All those rumors of strange animals roaming the Forbidden Forest, the school grounds... I should've seen."

Sirius growled, narrowing his eyes. His voice was dripping with venom as he spat, "You could never keep your big nose out of our business, could you-!?"

"Hardly," Snape said loudly, drowning out Sirius' voice. Sirius could tell he'd made Snape angry, his eyes flashing. "A group felony, it would appear..." He had an edge to his voice, one which indicated that he was threatening them. That threat would probably have something to do with giving this information to the Ministry if he had the chance, and a one way ticket to Azkaban...

Since he couldn't kill Snape (Though he desperately wanted to.), Sirius would just remind himself to put a very powerful Memory Charm on the stupid git later...

"What are you two doing here," Snape demanded, his gaze shifting back and forth between Sirius and Lupin. "Why are you here? Damn you both!"

Sirius gritted his teeth. "We're here for the same reason you are. And unlike you we have the right to be here!"

"Dumbledore sent us word," Lupin said, his voice very even. "And it's a good thing we came, for both of you. That Dementor was going to-"

"I don't care," Snape shouted sharply. "And even so, why are you just standing around!? The Dementors we most likely come back here! LEAVE!!"

"I don't think so, the Dementors w--"

"Why bother with him, Remus," Sirius demanded, though he refused to leave James' said. "The old fool is better off dead, anyway. I can't even understand it when someone saves his life, just like with James! Absolutely no sense of gratitude!"

Snape stiffened and looked straight into Sirius' eyes as he spoke, "Go back to the dark, slimy hole you crawled out of, Black..."

Sirius' angry was to strong to put into words, but he was screaming in his head. 'Die Snape, just drop dead!!!'

Lupin sighed, closing his eyes for a moment and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Why can't you just accept our help, Severus?"

Snape cut him off sharply, seething, "I don't want your help, Lupin!"

Lupin, however, hadn't given up on helping the man, no matter what Snape said. Why? Sirius would never know (But Lupin always did have a very kind nature.). "You're hurt..." Lupin reached out toward Snape, who had his hand pressed firmly over some sort of wound in his chest. It looked as if it were still bleeding, and Snape's pale hands were covered in crimson. His heavy robes were also wet with rainwater (As were Sirius and Lupin.), but also with blood; barely visible amongst the many folds of dark cloth. He might've even been suffering for blood lose, but it was hard to tell, he being so pale to begin with.

"Of course I'm hurt," Snape snarled, moving out of Lupin's reach, half staggering. "He," Snape pointed juttingly at the sleeping James, the motion almost throwing him off balance, "was trying to kill me!"

How dare he accuse James... How dare he! "He wouldn't hurt you unless you were trying to hurt him," Sirius roared, glaring for all he's worth. All the years that they'd spent in Snape's presence, he wasn't about to listen to him bad mouth James of all people. Not now! When Snape simply glared right back with a certain amount of mocking, Sirius decided that 'glaring' just wasn't enough, and took his wand (Which he'd recently "exchanged" at Ollivander's) from his robe pocket. Snape, apparently unarmed, looked more than a little angry now. "You would do best not to open your mouth, Snape, or you might regret it..." His voice was barely a whisper, but quiet deadly in tone.

Snape hissed, his eyes narrowing as he stood his full height, looking unintimidated by Sirius' threat. "You would attack an unarmed man...?"

"Wouldn't you!?"

Snape make a noise that was something between a snicker and a exclamation of disgust. Damn Slytherin...

Sirius gave into the urge of bring the man bodily harm, moving to attack.

"Enough," Lupin barked (No pun intended.), so loudly that Sirius stopped in his tracks, and even Snape looked faintly surprised (It was very rare as the quiet, calm Remus J. Lupin shouted at the top of his lungs). Snape's display of what some might of considered "surprise" soon vanished into the bitter look he always had when in the presence of James, Sirius or Remus (Peter is not included in this, because the wimp didn't even deserve a bitter look, much less any attention at all.). Snape and Sirius shifted uncomfortably under Lupin's sharp gaze, until the man was certain that they had stopped and that the level of hostility on the air had distinctly lowered. "Don't forget your agreement," Lupin said gravely, his glaze drifting between the two men. "You must trust each other, and that also means that you shouldn't be at each others throats all the time."

Yes, Sirius remembered all too well the agreement that he and Snape made at the end of Harry's school term last year, just after the Tri-Wizards Tournament. It was a moment he rather regretted at this time. What he would give to just blow Snape away...

Snape didn't seem to agree with this either, but took it in the same manner as Sirius: with bitter regret. He sneered, "No need to state the obvious, Lupin. I'm-" He was cut off as Lupin thrusted a piece of chocolate in his face (Lupin had eaten some himself already... So that's why he was so calm...). Snape blinked, his nose wrinkling in disgust when realized what it was.

"Eat it," Lupin order simply. "It will help with what the Dementors-"

Snape growled, snatching the chocolate from Lupin's hands, interrupting his sentence. "I know very well what it does! I am not ignorant!"

Lupin just shrugged, not taking any insult to Snape's behavior, but it pissed off Sirius worse than ever. Oh, how he hated that man. 'Damn bloody git...'

~~~~~~~~~~~

'Damn you, Black...'

Once again, humiliated and nearly killed by these men. And now in debt to Black of all people (After all, Black interrupted that Dementor at the last moment...). This was yet another fact he would have the displeasure of living with. First Potter, now these two... At least Potter was unconscious. That would help, considering...

Snape composed himself, despite the fact that he was a mess. The Dementor that had grabbed him left a feeling of nausea in its wake. His head wasn't as clear and sharp as it should've been. His hands were shaking (To his utter embarrassment.), and the memories that the Dementors had forced him to relive still clear in his mind.

But he wouldn't let Black and Lupin notice this. No.

He hide his hands in the folds of his robes, annoyed with the cold, damp weight from rain and blood that had soaked his robes. Snape didn't know that he could easily bleed to death at this point... But even so, he wouldn't show anymore weakness than he already had to Black and Lupin. Never again...

His mind set on heading for the Portkey, Snape suddenly strode in the direction of his fallen wand, practically shoving Lupin out of his way, and still holding the chocolate he'd been given. Snape's wand lay a few feet ahead of where Potter was asleep with Black knelt in front of him. Black tensed and stood tall as Snape neared, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. Snape almost smirked, satisfied that Black was so wary of him even while unarmed. But he just brushed right by him and Potter, robes bellowing, plucking his wand from the damp ground. While his back was turned to both Black and Lupin he stuffed the chocolate into his mouth, eating and swallowing it quickly (He didn't want Lupin's help, but he needed to be able to think clearly. And chocolate was disgusting concoction altogether..).

Dementors could be such horrid pests. Hate them...

Almost immediately his mind cleared, his hands stopped trembling, the nausea left him. But there had been traces of his own blood still on Snape's hands, giving the sweet chocolate an added, bitter taste. The smell of it filled his nostrils, nearly making him gage. He grimaced in disgust, wiping his muddy wand and bloody hands on his robes in an attempt to clean them, glancing at Black out of the corner of his eye.

Black was eyeing him steadily, his eyes slightly narrow.

Lupin was offering him some chocolate as well ('Does this man always have chocolate with him?'). When the man didn't respond, Lupin got annoyed and simple shoved the substance into Black's mouth. Surprised and totally caught off guard, Black began choking. Lupin turned from Black, ignoring his vehement cursing. "Why did James attack you, Severus," Lupin asked gravely, his eyes darting to his unconscious friend.

Snape was getting annoy by the way the two fussed over Potter.

Instead of commenting, Snape raised his wand. Black tensed and started to raise his wand as well, but Snape had already turned from him and toward the pile of rumble near the collapsed wall. The body was still laying there, half buried. Snape held his wand ready, though, just in case, approaching to body with caution. Lupin must've seen the body, his eyes widening in dread and horror. "What have you done, Severus!?"

That was fine... Just fine. He goes through all this trouble and suddenly he's accused of murder!

Wonderful... Ungrateful...

"You would be good to know I have literally saved your precious Potter's life," he said slowly, dangerously. Maybe he had agreed to trust Black, but the agreement had nothing to do with verbal bantering. "Lucius," he wedged his boot under the body before him, turning the man over so Black and Lupin could see the mans pale face, "was so good as to... disclose some facts about my station as a Death Eater."

Lupin and Black were silent, starring at Malfoy. The man was more bruised than bloody, with a few scratches along his face and arms, which were now exposed because his robe sleeves had ripped. All of it could be easily healed, and he wasn't dead, after all. Snape had seen much worse in his time; and though Lupin and Black seemed shocked, Snape assumed that they had, also. Lupin took a step forward, ready to check on Malfoy, but Snape held up a hand to halt him.

"There's no need to look after him. He will live."

Lupin looked worried. Imagine that, worried about someone like Lucius Malfoy! "But--"

"Did you not hear what I said? He would sooner cast the Killing Curse on us if we were in his position!"

Lupin found this hard to believe. "Even a fellow Death Eater...?"

Snape narrowed his eyes, frowning. "You know very well. Especially a fellow Death Eater." Such a stupid question. "So just go back to fretting over Potter and leave Malfoy be!"

"Look, Snape," Black growled, walking forward until he was right in his face. "Our goal here is to get everyone back and alive. It doesn't matter who he is at this point!"

Snape snorted, crossing his arms. "Idiotic Gryffindor honor. I would expect you to grow out of it by now. Both of you."

"Nor have you grown out of being a Slytherin. As nasty and cruel as ever." Black sneered, looking as disguised as Snape had ever seen him. "I don't know why Dumbledore puts his trust in someone like you."

That's it, Snape couldn't hold it in anymore and he exploded, "Feel luckily that I didn't give in and just curse Potter myself when I had the chance-!!!"

Black grabbed Snape by the collar, squeezing with surprising strength, an almost maniacal glint in his dark eyes. He looked almost as mad as Potter had seemed earlier... "You BASTARD," he roared, "I'll kill you if you ever even think of hurting him!!!"

"Get off, Black!! Get off!!" But Black, unlike Snape at the moment, didn't have blind rage on his side. He couldn't get Black off. He cursed viciously, bringing his wand to Black's throat, ready to just kill him there. He could get off with murder if it was in self-defense. against a wanted killer

But Dumbledore-

(Severus and Dumbledore, just before he left for Diagon Alley.)

/"Yes... Never again, Albus..... What you're asking for a miracle..."/

/"What I am asking for, is that you will try... I know this is asking much of you, but you are the only one here fully capable... Please, Severus."/

'I can't kill him.... damn...'

But he wasn't strong enough to fight back at he moment. To much blood... He couldn't betray Dumbledore's trust...

His thoughts were interrupted by Lupin, who had come between them and shoved Black away.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Snape stumbled along with Sirius, both still glaring there rage at each other. But Lupin looked just as enraged as both of them. "Stop fighting for once," he shouted. "If you two are so eager to see bloodshed than just look around you!" He paused, breath deeply. His breath shuttering with suppressed emotion. Lupin could stay calm in most situations, but this was different. Very different. "Wait for another occasion to do this, because now is not the time. My guess is that there are more Dementors still out there, looking for us, and will probably manage to kill all of us if they make there way here. Do you think this is the time to act like brainless adolescents!?"

Lupin waited, but both men remained silent. He took this is as a "no".

"Good..." He turned to Snape and spoke, addressing him politely. "Severus."

Snape's head raised slightly, but then he merely crossed his arms, wand still in hand. "Yes," he asked quietly, as if he were trying to control his voice.

"Do you know of a place we could hide, or go to? We can't Apparate and leave James like this, for whatever reason." When it looked like Snape was going to say something, Lupin continued hurriedly while raising his hands, "Whatever you might otherwise think, we need to stay together. For the safety of all of us. The Ministry would've sent people out by now to find or hunt out the Dementors..."

Sirius jerked suddenly, like he'd been shocked. "They wouldn't come here, would they? Not this far out?"

Lupin sighed, frowning, his eyes drifting to James for a moment. "I think you ran into those Dementors by accident. They were probably heading toward town, were there are more people. These passages were just dark and convenient enough for them to travel through." His eyes landed on Malfoy, his mind still piecing together all elements of the situation. "I doubt even Voldemort trusted James to stay in the area, not if he was wandering off... He sent Malfoy to make sure he was around... for the Dementors to..." He could feel his throat locking.

'Damn you to hell, Voldemort...'

Snape looked away, his face calculating. "We won't need to stay here. A Portkey is waiting for... us..." He was straining with the words "we" and "us", as if they were trying to intrude on his own personal matter. "Dumbledore won't be please with me, bringing extra baggage along with me. And I doubt my students will find him very welcoming." He gestured toward Sirius, who just pointedly ignored his meaning.

"I think your students will manage," Sirius stated, crossing his arms.

Lupin nodded. 'Good, so they could leave. Straight to Hogwarts.' "Severus, if you would be so kind as to place a Memory Charm on Malfoy, just in case. Sirius, help me with James."

Sirius obeyed immediately while Snape paused for a few seconds, obviously not very pleased about taking orders from someone else other than Dumbledore or... Voldemort, or much less a werewolf.

Lupin shivered, kneeling down with Sirius over James' body. "How can we move him," he asked, unsure. "He'll too heavy to carry, and be can't risk waking him." Sirius didn't respond. Why...? "Sirius...?" He looked up.

Sirius was still next to him, with his eyes squeezed tightly shut and a hand clasped over his mouth. He looked like he was about to vomit. "H-He looks like a corpse," he whispered, his voice shaking and muffled by his hand. "I can't... I can't stand looking at him like this..."

"Sirius, you need to hold together," Lupin said quietly so Snape wouldn't hear. "Please. Wait until we're out of here, then we won't have to worry anymore...Okay?"

Lupin waited. Then Sirius took deep breath he nodded, his eyes opening. His eyes looked so much stronger than before. "Right," he said firmly. "I suppose I could use 'Mobilicorpus'..." He glanced at his new wand, grimacing. "I'd hate to use something like that on him..."

"Swallow your misfortunes, Black," Snape muttered (So he could hear them...), the tip of his wand glowing as his Memory Charm did its work. "Whatever can get him out of here quickly. And I doubt his body is taking to the Cruciatus Curse very well..."

"Cruciatus Curse!?"

Snape shot Sirius an annoyed looked. "You've probably experienced it as many times as I have, Black. You should know the signs by now.... Hmpf! Don't look so worried. Malfoy would have done much worse had he been alone with Potter any longer. Malfoys usually enjoy such sadistic pleasures, along with many others." His face showed an expression of distaste. "They live up to their bad reputation..."

"But you stopped him..." The thought struck Lupin like a volt of electricity.

Snape had stopped Malfoy...? Snape, of all people? He'd attacked another Death Eater, a Malfoy, knowing the personal risk in doing so...

Maybe he could be trusted after all...?

Lupin's eyes were wide, his mouth almost gapping in awe. He couldn't help it. "Thank you, Severus."

Snape started, looking up from his work on Malfoy (He seemed to be done, but was checking over his work.). "What?" He said this in a tone that added 'Did I hear you correctly...?'

Sirius frowned. "Why are you thanking him, he didn't-"

"Sirius! If Severus hadn't gotten here when he did who knows what Malfoy might've done to him!"

Sirius' jaw snapped shut as he was about to saw something, a rather guilty look crossing his face. He turned to Snape. "I..."

"I don't want to hear it," Snape said quickly, waving them off. "The Portkey is waiting at the London Bridge passage, a mile from here, I think... We will need to walk on foot along with Potter, but it should take too long." He lifted the hood of his cloak, adjusting it tightly. "We can't be seen, though I doubt there is anyone else down here at the moment. We would hear them. Sound carries very far in these passages..."

'Unless they're trying not to be heard...'

Snape held his wand in his hand, and said firmly, "Point Me."

As Lupin and Sirius watched, Snape's wand spun once before pointing deeper into the passages, opposite of where they'd all come in the first place. All they could see was black, and this wasn't a good sign, as far as Lupin was concerned.

He pointed in the direction his wand indicated. "This way..." Snape took a few stepped, and tipped over dangerously. Even as Lupin moved for him he caught himself at the last moment, cursing.

Lupin took a step toward Snape, concerned. "Are you...?" He saw how much blood had stained Snape's robes, saw how incredibly pale his hands were. "Severus, you're bleeding to death."

"I'll be fine," he said stubbornly, already walking, his hand once again clutched over his wound.

Lupin starred after him, disappointed (Though he didn't know any spells that could stop bleeding, anyway...). Just when maybe they were getting somewhere with the man... Well, maybe Sirius wasn't...

Sirius had turned to James, pointing his wand. He whispered "Mobilicorpus," and James slowly lifted into the air.

Then they were walking.

In all true it was a horrible experience. Sirius listened carefully for sounds from the tunnels while Lupin paid attention to where they were going, using a Lighting Charm so they could see. In the end, Snape was lagging just behind all of them, probably due to his lack of full strength. Snape had to use his wand a few more times during their journey as they met a number of twists and turns. Though it was just a back up. All of them, including Snape, knew the way to the London Bridge passageway. Lupin had used it himself once or twice when he was too young to Apparate legally. But that had been years ago, and he had no use for the passages since he got his license.

The worst part of the situation was James... Hanging lifelessly out in front of them like a freakish marionette, his head lolling slightly. Lupin saw why Sirius didn't want to cast the spell in the first place...

And having to keep his thoughts and feelings bottled inside for the time being was driving Lupin mad...

They must've been halfway there when Snape nearly collapsed again, the man gasping in pain. "I'm fine," he insisted as both Lupin and Sirius moved toward him. He was sounding a lot stronger than he looked. "Just keep moving..." His breathing became heavy, labored.

To Lupin's surprise, Sirius was the one that moved to Snape's side. Sirius grabbed Snape's left arm and placed it around his shoulders and then put his other right arm around Snape's waist, supporting most of the man's weight. Snape was to weak from blood lose to make any protests or give a fight, but he was grumbling, his expression hidden beneath his hood. "Bloody Gryffindors..." (Snape would just have to wait until he was strong before he could hex Sirius for this...)

Then they were walking again, in total silence, Sirius having to half drag Snape along (The man refused to be levitated about like James.). Snape would still have to use his wand to point the way from time to time, but they were coming closer to their dissention. Lupin kept a close watch on James while Sirius helped Snape.

The only sounds they could truly hear were the dripping from the rain above and their own footsteps on the cold stone. The air was still very chilling, and probably even more so in these passages...

~~~~~~~~~~~

The streets of the Underground had long since been abandoned. Most people had locked themselves into buildings, or their own homes or shops. All of them knew by now what terror awaited them on the streets.

Many had already fallen victim.

Arthur Weasley shivered as the rain continued to fall, though now in the form of a faint, icy mist.

They had come across three bodies already. Two of which, "luckily", were old Wizards with weak hearts, unable to handle what was happening to them. The other, a middle aged Witch... She didn't meet as merciful a fate...

The number of victims was uncountable at this point. Who knew how many the other teams had come across. More and more Dementors had been sighted before they left, reaching up to a count of thirteen (A very unlucky number.). But even with this fact and possible omen, the Ministry team was doing their best to keep faith, to block off their own feelings of dread and fear. It would only be used against them in the end.

But now they were drawing nearer.

They could feel it.

Mr. Weasley could feel it.

There was movement...

'Expecto patronum," he thought, 'Expecto patronum, expecto patronum...'

Two dark shapes glide from the shadows, arms outstretched...

'Oh, God... Please...'

Fear gripped him, fog tried to move in. But no, he would be stronger than that.

'.... Charlie, Percy, be alright when this is over....'

'Molly, everyone, I love you...'

'I love you all...'

And Mr. Weasley rushed forward with the others.

All rushing to face their nightmares...

~~~~~~~~~~~

The passage that they were looking for should be no more than a few yards ahead. They'd been walking for quiet some time, but they trusted that they had been going in the right direction.

The silence was broken as a curse whizzed by Snape's head.

They all stopped suddenly, spinning around.

The attack had come quickly, and none of them had heard anyone approaching. But it was too late now. Luckily their enemies were pretty far away (Their voices were so far in the distance that even the echo faded once it reached them, and they were unable to identify any of the curses that were thrown at them.). Lupin screamed "Nox!" and his lighting spell was canceled out. Everything was near black, they could only make out faint moving silhouettes. They couldn't see their attackers and now their attackers wouldn't see them. But they were getting closer.

Another curse came flying their way. Snape and Sirius moved away from each other, both backing up to a wall. Sirius got one wall while Lupin and Snape got the other. The impact of Sirius' body against the cold, hard stone caused jolts of pain to shoot through his still fresh bruises. He hissed in pain.

"James! GET JAMES!!"

Sirius had almost missed it, but Lupin's panicked cries made him realize it. James was still hanging in the air as the curses came flying past as brief spurts of bright light, like wild fairies. In a panic, Sirius canceled the spell suddenly ("Finite Incantatem!"), and James fell. The impact with the ground only lessened by a carefully cast spell by Lupin. Sirius was screaming.

"Run!! Come on!!"

"Who is that!?"

"It doesn't matter! RUN!!"

"WAIT!"

"AARGH!!!" Some sort of curse had barely missed a direct hit on Snape, getting him in the shoulder. The effects of the curse couldn't be determined unless they took a close look, be he wasn't about to check now. Snape nearly collapsed against the wall, supporting himself with his left hand against the cold stone, still flinging curses right back at their attackers. "Cast the spell on Potter! MOVE HIM!!"

"I can't," Sirius screamed back, "they'll hit him. Moony (It was only safe to use names that their attacks couldn't identify.) get out of there!"

Lupin tried moving for James, but got shot in the ankle. He cried out in pain, nearly falling.

"Get James!! Get him out!"

Sirius pointed his wand at James, who was still laying in the middle of the passage in the line of fire. "Moony, get ready!" Lupin nodded. "Accio!"

James was suddenly flung toward Lupin, who caught him in the chest. Both men went down, however, crashing to the floor.

Chaos...

"It doesn't matter anymore," Snape screamed. "Just wake him! NOW!"

"I'm trying! 'Enervate' isn't working! He's not in a normal state of sleep!"

"Stupefy! Dammit!" Sirius fought against the pain, still pressing himself against the wall. "We can't even see them, who are we fighting!?"

Snape cursed. "This isn't working!"

"Shut-up!!"

"We're loosing this! Wake him!!"

"PADFOOT!! J-James!!"

James...

"What!? What's happened!?"

James had awoken...

"Wha--....?"

........

Chaos...

"Oh.... Merlin....."

~~~~~~~~~~~

"How could you, Albus?"

Dumbledore shook his head, starring into the fire. His office didn't seem as... "Alive" as usual. Even Fawkes was still, silent as he stood on his perch, watching. The fire bird could tell something was wrong... "I don't understand what you're asking, Minerva."

McGonagall shook her head, her lips set in a tight line. "Sir, I don't see why you had to tell him--"

"And keep this from him," he interrupted quietly. McGonagall didn't answer. Turned his brilliant pale blue eyes at her, gazing seriously through his half-moon spectacles. "What would you have me do, Minerva? Lie to him? About such a thing..."

"But... But what if he tells his fellow students... Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley..."

"They needed to know so they too could understand. They would have to so they could be there for Harry... Harry will need them right now. More than ever."

"..... And what of Severus?"

Silence.

Dumbledore wouldn't admit his own dread for the mans safety. Asking him to find James was much to ask, when he'd done so much already. Severus Snape was a good man, though rather vicious at times. Severus refused be seen as what he really is, and is satisfied with playing the silent hero. But if Severus was injured, or seen by another Death Eater...

Merlin help him...

"Albus...? What are you thinking about, Albus?" She was looking at him curiously, though worriedly.

Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing, Minerva..." He smiled, totally masking his thoughts, though he didn't feel very enthusiastic about doing so at the moment... (Though he should be used to it by now, he does it so often!) "Let us go to the Great Hall. Lunch will be starting soon, and it wouldn't be good to show up late." A faint rumbling could be heard, though not as pronounced as earlier. "I'm sure there are many Slytherins wanting to know if their dungeons are still in tact..."

He didn't wait for an answer before walking, McGonagall following close behind. Their footsteps echoed slightly in the empty hallways, their robes brushing and rustling over the stone floors. Soon they neared the Great Hall, a student or two rushed by them now and then, eager to get to lunch. The faint sound of chattering could he heard just ahead, which soon became a distant roar. They had walked in silence, for a while in step with each other, before McGonagall cleared her throat, whispering

"I haven't heard any noise since we left your office... What do you make of that?"

Yes, indeed Dumbledore had noticed. But surely Hagrid had done enough already. Dumbledore didn't expect him to keep up the act for too long... "I think he may be exhausted... Or perhaps the Blast-Ended Skrewts are exhausted?"

".... Albus, I really have no idea." They entered the Great Hall. It was half full of students from various houses. Very few faculty members had arrived either. That was a good thing... "Surely that will cause problems, they might go and try looking for their headmaster in the dungeons..."

"Minerva," Dumbledore said quietly, shaking his head as they reached their table and took a seat. "One thing you must realize... Slytherins are not Gryffindor. Very few could risk suck a thing..."

"I know, but Albus..."

Hm... How to describe cowardice to a Gryffindor...?

"... Severus is going to be furious when he sees."

McGonagall sounded very uncertain as she said this, as if she were displaying only faint hope. Was she so certain that Severus wouldn't live...?

"I know, Minerva, but Severus will just have to do a bit of cleaning."

McGonagall gave him a look. "A 'little'.... .... Dear me, Albus, look."

Dumbledore followed her gaze to the Gryffindor table.

There, Harry sat with his friends Ron and Hermione, chatting quietly. Ron was telling some sort of joke to which Harry laughed, if not very enthusiastically.

Dumbledore knew he'd pull through...

Such a strong boy...

Dumbledore smiled knowingly, the expression reaching his eyes for the first time since he'd told Harry... the "news". McGonagall looked just short of shocked, her jaw dropped for a moment before snapping tightly shut. "I don't believe it," she whispered, her voice almost laughing with joy. "How can any child look so calm, knowing what he knows..."

"You would be shocked, Minerva." He took a sip from his pumpkin juice.

".... You were right, Albus..." She bowed her had. "I am sorry I doubted your judgment..."

"Everyone has their doubts... We would not be human if we didn't have them, nor would we be truly alive. That way we know our own limitations. A doubt had helped me make my decision to tell the boy, and now look how it's turned out." Sip. "But we can all make mistakes... We all have, and we will again," He smirked and winked, "From time to time."

McGonagall starred at him. ".... Indeed...."

Dumbledore just smiled. "You worry far too much, Minerva..."

McGonagall sighed. The two watched as more professors and students joined them in the hall. Everyone was accounted for within the next few minutes, and nothing seemed out of place. Dumbledore watched the enchanted ceiling as the rain clouds and lightening finally began to fade into blue and sunlight...

Then an intense tremor hit the school, like an earthquake.

It was intense, like nothing they'd experienced that day. And Dumbledore knew at once, while everyone else sat, glancing around in confusion. He stood.

McGonagall was startled. "W-What!? The Skrewts!?"

"No," he said gravely. "The Skrewts aren't causing this..."

~~~~~~~~~~~

(A few moments before the "quake".)

"You okay, Harry?"

Harry smiled a bit, but only a bit. "Yeah, Ron, thanks..."

"You really should eat," Hermione insisted gently, smiling a little. "You look hungry."

Silence...

Hermione smiled. "You know, I'm very glade you came, Harry. It is very brave of you."

Harry brightened ever so slightly. "Really...?"

Ron and Hermione nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah," Ron added loudly. Then quietly he said, "You're Dad'll be really proud, ya' know?"

Harry thought he actually blushed a little at that thought. Thanks to his friends he had a new hope... and the very thought of making his father proud made Harry feel warm inside. "You think so?"

Hermione sighed. "Harry, how many times--"

Her voice, however, was soon drowned out by a loud rumbling noise.

Everything was shaking and vibrating madly. The floor, the chairs, the plates and goblets. Even the floating candles were flickering wildly. It came so suddenly that a number of students screamed in panic throughout the Great Hall. A number of goblets either fell or were tipped over by accident as students stood up suddenly. Harry saw a Ravenclaw attempt to stand up from his seat, but only succeeded in falling to the floor. A number of others followed in suit.

All of this only took fifteen seconds... Then it was gone.

The hall was full with the sound of chattering students once more, all nervous and ever terrified about what just occurred. The professors had all stood at the faculty table, all talking rapidly to each other, especially the very nervous DADA Professor Dorrey. Dumbledore was trying to bring order to them all, but none would listen.

"The Skrewts really made a bad one, that time," Ron said shakily, getting to his feet.

"That was NOT a Blast-Ended Skrewt," Hermione croaked, looking pale with fright. "Three of them couldn't cause THAT...!"

"Ron! Oi, Ron, are you okay!?"

"Yeah, are you hurt, mate!?"

Ron waved down the table at his brothers, Fred and George, smiling reassuringly. "I'm fine! It's okay, Ginny, don't worry! It's just the Skrewts!"

"It cannot be the SKREWTS," Hermione insisted again.

Harry could see Ginny a little ways down the table, clutched protectively between Fred and George. She looking terribly frightened, eyes almost impossibly wide, and her brothers looked terribly apprehensive themselves. They were talking to some seventh year Gryffindors rapidly. Everyone was scared or confused, and Harry was definitely both.

'What WAS that!?'

At that moment the grand doors to the entrance of the Great Hall flung open with a defining BOOM! Everyone in the hall grew silent in an instant, all eyes turning to the figure that stood there.

Ron gasped, gripping onto Harry's robe sleeve. "P-Professor Lupin," he whispered hoarsely.

Yes.

Remus Lupin stood at the entrance, breathing heavily. His tattered brown robes seemed even more tattered than usual (if that was ever possible) , and now sopping wet. The man limped forward painfully and a number of students gasped in shock as the physical sight of him. He was a mess. Covered with scratches and burns...

"I..." Lupin stopped took a deep breath, unable to finish his attempt at a sentence.

There was some sort of commotion happening just beyond the doors, but no one could see what it was. Harry was one of many who were standing, trying to see what was happening. But Harry knew what it was about.

That's what was so scary.

Then Lupin took another deep breath and tried again. "I-I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore..."

He offered a small smile.

And then he collapsed...

~~~~~~~~~~~

To be continued...

~~~~~~~~~~~

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^__^ Dang, I love my job. Next part out soon, and sorry for the hideous grammar... You're help with that is much appreciated.