Descendant of the Challenger- the Power of Blood


                                           By: Star of Faith


Disclaimer: We own characters not created by J.K. Rowling. Do not steal. We kill.



                                                 Prologue



         With a thud, the tall, slender, raven-haired woman collapsed to the hard wooden floor of the Shrieking Shack. Worried that she was hurt, her companion, a weary brown haired gentleman, rushed to her side. He was weak from his recent ordeal, his gray eyes filled with concern and fatigue. His hands, sturdy and strong, warm, closed over the woman's wrists, pulling her unconscious form to him.



         "Rhiannon?" he whispered urgently, pushing back the black hair fanning her forehead. She whimpered slightly, and her forehead creased. Her hands moved wildly from their position on the floor, scraping the hard floor with their black painted nails.



          "'Ninny, calm down. I'm here now." The gentleman's voice was soft, ragged, concerned.



          He was given a reply straight away, in the form of an evil glare and an irritated retort: "I'm not the ninny here, 'Mussy, darling." She sat up, groaned, and slumped back down into his expectant arms.



         He smiled. "Even at your weakest you find a way to be utterly, devastatingly sarcastic." His eyes twinkled slightly with relief, mingled with a bit of lingering concern.



        "You forgot insulting. Completely insulting. And beautiful. Can't forget that." The woman winked, staggering to her feet and brushing away her friend's hand impatiently.



         "Really, Remus." she said, her eyebrow arched. "Such childhood endearments are below us now. We've moved on to bigger and better things." She turned to the window of the small attic, tracing her fingers down the chilled glass. Her gaze was distant, as she regained her bearings.



          Remus regarded the woman with a thoughtful gaze. "Some bigger and better than others, Rhiannon." He moved to the window beside her, and peered out alertly, his eyes scanning for disturbances.



           "What do you mean?" Rhiannon asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, a perplexed expression crossing her face. She turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest.



           Remus's lips thinned, his stance mirroring hers. "Being Voldemort's lapdog is no better than putting a Spiritus Potion in in the place of Snape's pumpkin juice first year."



           Rhiannon snorted. "I believe that was Sirius, and I also remember a certain werewolf finding it terribly funny, and snorting into his treacle pudding. Not that I'll mention any names, of course." Her eyes were flashing, both with simmering animosity and a dash of amusement. It had been a long time since she had been free enough to banter with another human being, though that human being was quickly becoming insufferable.



            Remus sighed. "Please, 'Nin. Let's not fight now. We really just simply cannot afford it." Rhiannon hid a smile and shrugged. Remus always did have a way of speaking like a stuffed shirt, even under the direst of circumstances. "Will you be alright?" It wasn't in their nature to ignore the possibility for a row, but at that moment neither of them had the heart to engage in one. They unfolded their arms and both moved towards the center of the room.



            "Yes," she said, her voice flat and belying casualty. All amusement was gone from her person. "It was only a dizzy spell. I-I'm not used to expelling such power in such short bursts."



             "Yes," Remus said, his gaze again searching. "I'd expect you haven't used your powers for good much lately, either." Rhiannon sighed exasperatedly, blowing air up through her mussed hair. She fidgeted slightly, knowing he was right, but all the while hating him for it.



             "You have no right to yell at me, Remus Lupin, no right at all. You have no idea what I've been through these past 15 years." She looked petulant, her hands on her hips, eyes blazing with fury. Remus kept all thoughts of the hilarity her childish air held to himself..



          He, equally exasperated, said in a voice husky with emotion, "So tell me." He suddenly moved close, his lips nearing her own. She could feel his breath stirring against her cheek. His hands clasped her waist, his chest a protective barrier for her hands to rest on.



          She almost backed away. Fifteen years of solidarity and what she went through…she almost couldn't handle human contact. Almost. But she pulled herself together as her friend pulled her close. Why, she wondered. Because this was Remus. Remy. She snorted again. Mussy. The boy who had taught her to love. And to hate

               Rhiannon shook her head, resting her cheek against his white dress shirt. "If I told you everything," she whispered, more to herself than anything, "you'd be like me. Tainted. I couldn't handle that. I-I need to keep this to myself."



               Remus let her go, his hands thrown in the air with anger. "Aren't I the same as you? After all you know of me, of the monster I am, what could be so terrible as to making me worse than I am?"



              A harsh laugh escaped Rhiannon's lips. "Believe me, I am a living tale of woe."



            "Tell me anyway," Remus challenged. "I always did like those dark, gothic books in the Restricted Section."



            "Ahhh…Le Morte de Vita. The Black Death of the Heart. For such a sensitive soul, you really were quite depressing." Rhiannon winked again, dispelling some of the tension.



            "You're digressing."



            Rhiannon sighed melodramatically at Remus's "joke."



           "It's your funeral, Remmy…just don't expect me to sing." She placed a hand on her head, pushing back a renegade curl.



           "Wouldn't dream of it," he teased lightly, helping Rhiannon to sit down onto a wooden crate. "You have a horrid singing voice."



           "Remus." Her eyes were wide, the light green irises pale with worry. "I still don't know if we have enough time…Voldemort…he probably is looking for us right now." Rhiannon had to make sure Remus knew of the seriousness of their situation.



           "I'm up for the challenge, Rhiannon, as long as you are. We weren't Head Boy and Girl for nothing," Remus said with a grin.


 
          "Remus, we weren't Head Boy and Girl, period. And you're making me get off topic again, I swear you do it on purpose," Rhiannon accused, shaking her head slightly.



                 "A little friendly banter didn't hurt anyone," Remus joked lightly.



                 "It will hurt us." Her eyes were serious, "Now, let me tell my story…"