Chapter 6

"He's worse than a child, Jeanette." Methos growled as he ran a hand through his hair, still calming down after his discussion with Jack.

The wizard had retreated to the opposite end of the house to take a shower and ready a few things so he and Methos could leave the following morning, and the two immortals were taking the opportunity to converse while he was out of range.

She smiled softly. "I know he can be trying, but give him time. I'm truly grateful to you for doing this."

"How did you ever put up with him as a boy?"

Janet chuckled. "Thankfully, I had his grandparents to pass him back to when got too rambunctious."

"I'm certain he was quite the handful."

"That he was." Her expression sobered. "Listen, you'll need to be careful."

"I know how to hide someone."

"Methos, I don't doubt that, but Jack is…different. The people looking for him...they have ways. If you're even the slightest bit careless..."

He shook his head. "You said you trusted me. Let me do what I know how to do. I'll keep him safe. I swear it."

A tear rolled down her cheek and he was quick to pull her into a tight embrace. They stood like that for what seemed like ages before they finally parted.

"I suppose I shouldn't be so mother-hennish with him, but I can't help it. He's the closest thing I have to my own child."

He nodded. "I understand, believe me, I do."

"Are the two of you finished talking about me?" They both looked up when they heard Jack's voice call out from the living room.

Janet scowled. "You wretched, man. Get in here."

He stepped inside the room a moment later, a sheepish grin on his face.

"I didn't want to interrupt."

"The hell you didn't. How long were you listening to us?" She brought her hands to her hips in a rather stern gesture.

"Not long. Just enough to hear you admit to being a mother hen."

Trying not to laugh she reached out and playfully smacked the taller man on the head, though he attempted to duck out of the way.

"Children! Calm down, now."

"Yes, Dad." Jack jokingly retorted as he darted away from another slap from

Janet.

Harry waited impatiently by the window. He couldn't explain why he felt so afraid for Severus at that moment, but he did. His heart sank low in his chest as he sat quietly allowing his mind to wander.

"He should be just fine." Sirius voice caught him by surprise and the younger wizard turned to look up at his godfather.

"What are you talking about?" He tried to keep the uncertainty out of his voice, but knew in an instant he failed.

"You can't fool me, Harry. I know you're worried about Snape."

Harry sighed. "He risked his life to save me, Sirius."

"Any of us would have done the same."

"I spent all these years hating him, even after I found out he was Uncle Jack's brother I still doubted him. Until tonight I…" The young wizard trailed off, feeling his own shame burning on his cheeks.

Sirius took a few steps, stopping when he was close enough to rest a hand on Harry's shoulder. "No one blames you for that, Harry. He was playing his part well."

"But even after I knew who he was…I still didn't trust him. He could have died and I didn't believe in him." Harry flailed his arms in the air, pulling away from his godfather.

"Calm yourself, boy. Honestly, you're being a bit dramatic. Severus isn't going to die and your belief or disbelief in him really isn't that-"

Harry cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Stop it! It may not matter to you or Snape, but it matters to me."

"I assure you, Harry, he will be alright."

"But…"

Sirius pulled his godson into an embrace, surprised when he boy began to weep in his arms.

"I don't understand, Sirius. Why is all of this happening?"

"I wish I could give you an answer to that, Harry. I really wish I could."

Jack packed the few things he had in a small satchel and strapped it on his shoulder before moving towards the bedroom door. He took a deep breath before he stepped out of the room, not surprised when he saw Janet standing outside the room waiting for him.

"Well, I guess this is it." He said as nonchalantly as he could manage.

"Adam will keep you safe."

Jack shook his head. "My being safe is the least of my concerns. I just hope I can do all this in time."

"You will. Harry and the others are counting on you, and I've never known you to let anyone down when it really mattered."

The petite immortal pulled the taller man into an embrace and Jack was reluctant to let her go. When they did pull apart both had tears in their eyes.

"Alright…We'd better get going. The sooner I get started the sooner this will all be over."

As soon as the words left his lips a sense of dread passed over Janet Frasier as she silently prayed that things would end far better than she feared they would.

Lupin held the Potion's Master in his arms, moving swiftly towards the castle. When he reached Hagrid's hut the mammoth man was waiting for him.

"Give im ta me, Remus. McGonagall is waitin fer us." He took hold of Snape's limp form and they all took off moving up the path to the castle entrance.

A few minutes later they had made their way to the hospital wing and Madam Pomphrey was looking the Hogwart's professor over carefully as Remus and McGonagall discussed what had happened at Privet Drive.

"Harry said that the Dementors attacked him and his cousin. Severus intervened and that's when two Death Eaters showed up. He killed one but got hit with a blasting curse and the other one got away."

Minerva shook her head. "This is not good at all, Remus. He will have lost his cover for certain."

"You-know-who will come afer im fer sure." Hagrid chimed in as he watched Pomphrey working to heal Snape across the room.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Lupin asked, noticing that the headmaster had not shown himself yet.

"I've no idea. He's been gone since the end of last term. He left word he would return before the first day of classes."

Remus looked from Hagrid to Minerva, shaking his head. "Why would he disappear like that?"

Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to speak, but was stopped abruptly by Madam Pomphrey's frantic shouting from across the room.

"Bloody Hell! Stop moving you wretched man!"

The dark-haired wizard groaned loudly pushing the mediwitch away as he struggled to sit up. "Where's Harry?!"

They all hurried to his side quickly to try and calm the frantic Potion's Master.

tbc...sorry for the delay in posting chapters, next chapter is just about done...I should have time to post it during the week sometime, if not it'll be up by next weekend for sure.