The Wounded

The Wounded

Chapter 12

Dumbledore waved his hand, and over the center of Hagrid's rough wooden table a brilliant flame shot up, twisting, changing colors from yellow to red, blue, green, purple, then back to yellow again. The colors played around the room, dancing along the walls, striking against the furniture, and lighting the faces of everyone sitting around the table. Only a few of them, tonight. Tomorrow, there would be a big party at the Weasley's, but tonight, there were only Dumbledore, Hagrid, Harry, of course, Hermione, Ron, and Lupin, who sat away from the table against the wall, keeping a hand at all times on the head of Sev-the-Dog, who sat at his feet.

In the center of the flame, numbers began to appear, one after the other and everyone around the table began to say out loud, "Five, four, three, two, one, MIDNIGHT!" and then they all shouted, "Happy Birthday, Harry!" and cheered. The flame exploded into fireworks that shot around the room, bouncing and fizzing like rainbow colored sparklers, until the last tiny light winked out.

Where the flame had been on the table, there was now an enormous birthday cake, covered in eighteen flaring candles. Harry flushed, an embarrassed smile on his face, then he took a deep breath, and blew out all the little flames, to the accompaniment of more cheers and clapping from everyone around him.

Lupin smiled and leaned back in his chair, content to watch the others, to listen to Ron and Hermione chatter happily while cake was cut and passed around, answered every so often by Hagrid's deep rumble, or Harry's shy voice. Dumbledore was quiet, watching like Lupin, though he caught Lupin's eye at one point, and they both smiled at each other.

Harry had been so much better the past week, since Hermione came back. Not totally well, the anger was still there, but he was smiling again, his normal, gentle smile. Hermione couldn't visit long, but she had managed to come at least a few hours each day - "My parents are in a seminar, so I'm free in the afternoons." Lupin had seen the two of them, Harry and Hermione, walking around the Hogwarts grounds, talking quietly with each other. Ron had joined Harry in the evenings, after his job was over for the day, and Harry ate breakfast with Lupin every morning. Even Hagrid had seen a lot of the boy as well, and it was clearly doing Harry good.

And this night, especially, Harry's eyes had their old glow back. It was the first real birthday he'd ever had, he'd said, the first where he wasn't sitting alone, in his room, back with his Muggle family, but instead was here, surrounded by his friends.

Lupin felt a cold touch on his hand, and looked down. Sev-the-Dog looked up at him, with cool eyes. Lupin noticed the plate on the floor was empty. "Oh, you want some more, do you?" he said. Sev-the-Dog looked back haughtily, not even remotely like the typical pleading dog's eyes. Lupin chuckled quietly, reached for another piece of cake from the table and put it down on the plate on the floor. "No more, though," he said. If a dog could cock an eyebrow, then that would have described the glance Sev-the-Dog gave him, before lying back down and elegantly nibbling at his plate.

Unfortunately, there had been no improvement in Sev-the-Dog's behavior over the last week, other than that he seemed to be getting used to his situation. He was continually going off on his own, enough so that Lupin had stopped worrying about it when it happened. Every time he checked the mirror, invariably he'd see the dog stalking around the grounds, usually shadowing Harry. It was so like the boy Severus had been, and the way he'd followed James. Lupin would shake his head sadly, and go fetch him. Harry seemed to find it amusing now - Hermione must have managed to smooth it over with him. At least Harry didn't try to bait the dog anymore.

But, except for his anger towards Harry, Sev-the-Dog seemed content. Lupin would take him for walks around the grounds, they would visit Hagrid, or sit on the rock by the lake. Or they'd sit quietly together in Lupin's rooms, the dog curled up beside him while Lupin read. Lupin found himself enjoying the dog's company very much. He missed Severus's conversation, but Sev-the-Dog could say a lot with a mere expression, and it was nice, sitting quietly with the dog curled up beside him. Lupin had never had a dog when he was growing up - dogs, any pets, didn't work well in a house with a werewolf - and Lupin found he was enjoying the company of this one.

He leaned over and gave Sev-the-Dog a pat, and there was a wave of the long, silky tail in response. So far, today, the dog's hair was clean and straight - Lupin had been careful to keep him away from Harry - and while the dog was never going to be a beauty, he looked rather handsome, particularly when combined with his elegant air.

The night continued, with talk and laughter, and the sounds of eating and drinking. The room was lit by the warm yellow light of lanterns throwing soft shadows on the walls, and the music of voices and laughter sounded around the room. Lupin found himself drifting off, eyelids fluttering closed, as he sank lower and lower in his chair. This was much later than he was used to staying awake, these days. He was still an invalid, and wasn't up to his full strength.

Inevitably, there had to be that sad moment when a chair was drawn back from the table with THAT particular motion that said it's time we were moving on, it's over for the night. Everyone else slowly followed suit, standing and talking still, but slowly moving toward the door, and then outside.

Lupin followed with the rest. The air outside was warm and wet, soft as a blanket. There might be some rain tomorrow, but for now, the sky was clear, and the stars were bright, and a thin new moon shimmered above them - he still had nearly two weeks before the full moon. He breathed in the smell of the grass, and the warm air, but the scents seemed dull. His sense of smell was still sharper than a normal human's, but his werewolf senses were at their lowest ebb, this far away from the full moon.

And now, the sound of voices parting. Dumbledore was going on back to Hogwarts, while Harry would walk Ron and Hermione to the gate. Dumbledore caught Lupin's eye, and Lupin nodded, and followed Harry and the others as they walked along the path, Sev-the-Dog stepping beside him, instantly changing from elegantly lazy party attendee to alert guard dog.

Lupin kept back a little ways, not wanting to intrude on their conversation - the three of them were so close, they finished each other's sentences. He could be content just listening to them. Lupin smiled, and put a hand on Sev-the-Dog's back, and felt the dog move a little closer to him.

They reached the gate, and Lupin pulled out his wand and stepped through. Sev-the-Dog walked beside him - with Lupin's sense of smell so impaired, it was better to have the dog check things out along with him.

And my eyes aren't any better, Lupin thought ruefully. All he could see, in the dim light, were blacks and greys: ground, sky, and shadows. He held his wand out, and spoke a threat-detecting spell, but that showed nothing. He watched the dog, who circled around, his head moving up and down, sometimes snaking low against the ground, sometimes raised high to sniff the air. But his body showed nothing to indicate any alarm. After a few minutes, he returned to Lupin's side, and sat down.

"All clear," Lupin said. "Come on out."

Ron and Hermione gave Harry a final hug, and then came outside beside Lupin. "Good night, Harry," Hermione called. "We'll see you tomorrow, at the Weasley's."

"Oh, yeah, Harry," Ron called. "I almost forgot. Dad's going to come by tomorrow after lunch to get you. He's going to take you by the Ministry so you can get your Apparating license, he's got it all set up. Then he'll bring you on over to our place."

Harry grinned. "I'd forgotten about that. That's right, I'm legal now."

"Not until you've got your license, Harry," Hermione said.

Harry grinned and rolled his eyes at her. Lupin had to smile, too.

And then he felt Sev-the-Dog press against him. It wasn’t a random touch, he could feel tension in the dog's body. He looked down, and saw that the dog was staring intently at a spot just in front of them. Lupin looked, but could see nothing. What is it?

And then it hit him, a change in the air, and the smell of a human, but filthy, the stink strong enough to make him step back, nose wrinkling in pain. The air in front of them flickered, and then filled as a shape Apparated before them, a black, wild silhouette, tatters of clothing hanging off a skeletal frame, hair lank against a face little more than a skull, eyes as mad as any crazed werewolf. The figure’s arm was raised, and the wand was blazing.

"Ron, Hermione, Apparate now!" Lupin called out, raising his wand. Sev-the-Dog’s haunches tensed as he prepared to lunge at the figure, but it was too late. Light flashed from the wand, and Lupin felt the blast hit him, and knock him to the ground. He heard Ron and Hermione cry out, and the thuds as they, too, fell, while Sev-the-Dog gave a yelp of pain as he went down beside Lupin and lay still.

Lupin tried to move. Everything below his waist felt completely numb, but he could move his arms, just barely. He tried to concentrate, to Apparate, but couldn’t manage it, he was too weak. What about the others? Were they all right? He couldn’t hear anything from them, no sound, no indication of any movement. They must have been knocked unconscious in the blast.

All right then, he thought. Play dead. He hoped that was what Ron and Hermione were doing. But his wand was in his hand still, pinned under his body, and he could move the arm a little. He might be able to get it free enough, so that he could aim the wand, get a shot out. But his body moved with agonizing slowness, and he wondered if he was too weak to send any kind of strike against her. But he had to try.

He opened his eyes, just enough to see. The strange, scarecrow figure was facing a little away from him, arms down. Recovering from the blast that had been aimed against them, Lupin thought. Merlin, is this Bellatrix? Lupin could see no resemblance anymore to the beautiful woman he had once known in the strange creature that now stood before him.

Bellatrix flung her arms out, still facing – where? The gate! Harry!

"Aren’t you going to come out, little Potter?" Bellatrix called, her voice harsh. "They aren’t dead. Not yet."

Lupin turned his head carefully, until he could see Harry, standing in the gate, just behind the threshold. He had drawn out his wand, and a fountain of red fireworks was blazing up against the night sky – a distress call. Good lad, Lupin thought. You’re learning to think before you act. As long as Harry stayed on the Hogwarts grounds, behind the gate, he would be safe.

"No one will come, not in time!" Bellatrix shouted, her crazy eyes locked on Harry, her face contorted with hatred.

And as long as Bellatrix’s attention was fixed on Harry, Lupin might be able to get his wand free. If he could distract her with a blast from his wand, even a weak one, that would give Harry an opening to strike. He continued to inch his hand under him, feeling the tip of his wand slide slowly along his chest.

Harry’s face grew dark, and for a moment, he looked as if he would come through the gates, but he stood his ground, continuing to send up the red sparks from his wand into the sky. The red light reflected all around them, on the ground, in the sky, even along Bellatrix’s face, tracing the bones of her skull in deep red, throwing black shadows in the hollows of her cheeks and eyes, turning her even less human than before. A living embodiment of hatred. All she has is revenge, thought Lupin. Is there anything else left in her?

Which was fine with Lupin for now. Yes, keep your eyes on Harry, he’s safe from you, and I’ve just about got my wand in place, just a little more. He felt the tip slide out from under him. Just a little more, turn the hand, so he could aim it. He took a deep breath, and tried to gather his strength. He would only have one shot.

"Ah, ah, ah, werewolf, get that wand away!" Lupin looked up to see her wild face turned to his, and then her foot struck him sharply in the side, knocking his wand out of his hand, and sending it beyond his reach. She raised her wand and pointed at his heart, the light at the end of it sparkled white like molten metal. A silver blast! I’m dead, he thought, in the moment the light crackled and shot from her wand at him. I can’t possibly survive another blast of silver.

And then a spear of clear, white light shot across, blocking the silver, and he heard Harry’s voice, shouting, "Don’t touch him!" Harry had stepped outside the gate, his arm still raised, wand glowing.

Lupin saw the grin flash across Bellatrix’s face, and she turned, quick as a striking cobra, to send a shot directly at Harry, but he had already stepped back behind the gate, and the light of her blast bounced harmlessly off in front of him.

"Stay back, Harry!" Lupin heard Hermione’s voice call out weakly. "That’s what she wants, to bring you out!"

"Come out now, Potter, or they die!" Bellatrix called. She smiled, and casually aimed her wand at Hermione, sending out a blast of scarlet light.

Harry stepped out of the gate, wand up, and Bellatrix’s shot was knocked aside, earthing itself in the ground perilously close to Lupin’s head. He heard the grass sizzle and the smell of charred earth filled his nose.

Another blast from Harry’s wand followed the first, but Bellatrix whirled and caught it with her wand, easily, then sent another blast back towards Harry, who retreated back behind the gate. She’s faster than any of us, Lupin thought. Faster even than Harry. She’d been an even match for Sirius, and he’d been the best of them all.

Bellatrix laughed, and, with a flick of her wand, sent another shot toward Ron and Hermione. Harry had to jump forward to block it, and she whirled again to shoot at him. Harry was slow, but he managed to block this one as well. Hermione’s right, thought Lupin. That’s her strategy, she’ll keep aiming at us, forcing him out of the gate, keeping him focusing on protecting us, and not himself.

"Ron, Hermione," he managed to croak. "Can you Apparate?"

"No, Professor, I’ve been trying," came Hermione’s voice. "Can’t manage it," Ron’s voice said at the same time.

So we’re all stuck, thought Lupin, his heart sinking, as he watched Harry narrowly dodge Bellatrix’s latest blast. He’s good, though. If he can just keep this up until help arrives, we have a chance.

Then he cried out in pain, as Bellatrix shot him in the knee, and he heard her laugh. "Just a little silver, this time, werewolf," she said. "You won’t die yet."

Lupin felt tears in his eyes, the pain in his knee was agonizing, and he could feel it spreading up his leg. Bellatrix realizes she’s running out of time, he thought. She’s got to draw Harry out soon. And if she can’t? She’ll kill the three of us, if that’s all she can have, Lupin thought. She’ll hurt Harry any way that she can.

He heard a cry from Ron, as another of her shots caught him, and Harry’s own shot came too late to block it. Bellatrix’s own shot at Harry glanced off less than an inch away from him as he barely made it back behind the gate.

Bellatrix stood still now, her arms at her sides. Dumbledore has to have seen Harry’s signal by now, thought Lupin. She has no time left.

"No more playing, little Potter," Bellatrix said. "I will make you suffer as I have suffered, for now. I’ll come for you another time."

She stood tall, her tattered robes whipping around her, and she raised her wand again, and pointed it at Hermione. This time, the tip of her wand glowed green, a sickly green that Lupin recognized. The Killing Curse! Her haggard face contorted as she opened her mouth, her lips shaping the first of those terrible words, and Lupin knew that Hermione was going to die, and there was nothing any of them could do to stop it, he could only lie here helplessly.

"No!" screamed Harry, and he lunged forward, beginning a shot that Lupin knew would do no good, not against the Avada Kavedra, not once Bellatrix had begun it.

And then a black shadow lunged from the ground, almost at Bellatrix’s feet, and great jaws clamped around her hand. The wand splintered into a million fragments as the fangs closed down. The sick green light exploded around them, lighting up the clearing as bright as noon. Lupin cried out in pain, and he heard Ron and Hermione’s voices as well, shrill, while Bellatrix screamed and toppled to the ground, the dog going down with her.

Severus! Lupin’s mind brought up an echo of memory, of that day, Voldemort’s last battle, when he saw Severus fall to the ground, and was so certain he was dead. Too cruel, for him to have survived that, for us to have saved him again from himself, only a few weeks ago, to lose him now.

The agony in Lupin's leg had spread up to his body now, he could feel it crawling up his belly, his chest, his neck. He heard Ron and Hermione, gasping nearby – please, let them be all right! A blackness crept over his mind, and the last memory he had was the sound of Harry’s voice, quivering, as if he were crying, saying, "Hang on, you've got to hang on, help is coming" before the darkness overtook him.

TBC