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I know, I told you it would take a while, but I'm strangely inspired today... :)

R&R at the end of your reading pleaaaase!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry, Sirius, Severus, Remus or Buck, try me if you like!

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Chapter thirteen: Twelve paws in the night

Arleen had heard a quick footstep in the neighbouring office late that night. Later than everyone could expect. Stranger even, that footstep didn't belong to Remus. She could tell, Wolva provided her a helpful hearing skill when she needed it.

Stepping into Remus' office, the first thing she noticed was the opened parchment lying on the desk. The second thing she noticed was dots moving on it. She leaned closer.

Here it was. The Marauders Map, opened on Moony's desk. Opened.

She sat on his chair, not knowing what she was looking for, when a single dot, moving quicker than the others, appealed to her eye.

"Severus Snape" disappeared at the end of the Whomping Willow tunnel.

- This is it, then, she whispered.

Barely a week ago, she'd seen Remus looking eagerly at a parchment which she now knew was the map. And he probably had seen Pettigrew on it, and had run away to find him, letting the map opened. But Severus?

Arleen looked around closely and jumped. A silver fuming goblet was standing on the tea table. A grey potion untouched in it.

- Oh no, she said before falling in the chair again.

The full moon was still hidden behind the clouds, but she knew that by the time Remus would get out of the Shrieking Shack, it would appear high in the sky, letting everyone in danger.

She decided to wait and looked at the map.

Two dots appeared not far from the cursed tree. Hermione and Harry had joined the party, it seemed. But where was Ron?

- What are you waiting for? she asked to the dots though knowing no one would hear her.

The answer came half an hour later. Three dots appeared at the end of the tunnel. Those three dots were called "Sirius Black", "Severus Snape" and "Harry Potter". She stared. Something was happening, something odd and dangerous, but her mind couldn't make the point yet.

- The Time-Turner! she almost shouted to herself. Of course!

-o-o-o-

At the start of the year, Minerva had told her Hermione had been offered the privilege to possess a Time-Turner, a sort of hourglass that could help her attending all of the courses she had that year.

And now, she was using it with Harry. Why?

Another piece was missing...

-o-o-o-

Three new dots then appeared soon after the first ones. "Remus Lupin", "Peter Pettigrew" and "Ronald Weasley" now walked uneasily through the tunnel. Either Peter was dead or one of the others was injured. "Hermione Granger" closed the procession.

When Harry and Sirius arrived at the end of the tunnel, they let Severus next to a tree, probably unconscious as she knew him, and came closer to the castle, most probably talking. Arleen let out a little smile.

Her smile faded when the clouds suddenly disappeared in the sky. The moon was bright, and she then heard a scream.

- Hermione, she said before getting up, taking her wand in her mouth and turning for the first time in ages.

-o-o-o-

It took Wolva only three minutes to reach the Whomping Willow, but most of the fight had already ended. Severus was now up, protecting Hermione and Ron with his arms. He said "No!" when she got past them. Wormtail was nowhere to be seen. She understood he had escaped.

Not far from there, she saw Harry, throwing rocks at the werewolf's head, protecting Patfoot who was injured and howling on the ground. The wolf came towards and Wolva growled.

At the same time, another one howled in the Forbidden Forest. Another wolf? Remus ran to the voice, and Wolva knew there was no time to lose. Hermione had howled to provide Harry from being killed, and now their future selves were threatened.

She growled when Remus appeared in her sight. The wolf turned his head to her and growled too, jumping forwards to attack.

-o-o-o-

After a minute, Remus was leaning against a tree, knocked down for a moment. Wolva turned to Harry and Hermione, who were hiding behind a tree. She shot him a special glance.

- Professor? he asked slowly, still looking carefully at the wolf.

Wolva nodded and looked towards the lake then at Harry, growling a little.

He nodded in response and took Hermione's hand before going and saving his godfather's life.

Remus got up howling from pain. When he saw that she was still there, he attacked again. His claws closed on her paw and hers wounded his face. He growled even more and, his lips full of her blood, he jumped. One second later, he was lying on the ground, laced by ropes appeared into thin air.

Arleen had turned back. Her wand high, she sat on the ground, moaning. Remus' gaze became less angry, more surprised, as she looked into these strangely yellow eyes.

- You will hear about my physician, Moony, she said joking.

The air suddenly became colder, and her breath was becoming uneasy, as if someone had put a hand on her nose and mouth.

- Dementors, she tried to say, getting up.

But the guardians of Askaban didn't come for her. There were a hundred of them, all heading to the lake. She didn't have to go to know Harry would save the day. Her guts told her not to.

She sat down again and made a blanket appear. She wrapped it around herself and healed her arm. Remus' claws, hopefully, couldn't do anything to her. Then, looking at the sky, she waited. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but she knew she couldn't move. Beside her, Remus stopped howling while the sky became a little lighter.

- In a few hours, my friend, you'll be free, she told him before counting the stars.

-o-o-o-

Buck landed heavily on the ground, a few yards away from Arleen. She knew at first sight that someone was riding him, and she could only hope who it would be.

Sirius jumped on the ground and ran to her, still weak. She got in his arms as soon as she reached him.

- Oh Merlin's pants, you're alive! she whispered in his ear.

- You can thank Harry and Hermione for me... he answered.

- I will, she said opening again the space between them.

They smiled widely at each other.

- You saved him, Sirius said.

- I couldn't let him die, could I?

- You could have let Buck do the work for you.

- I don't like others to do what I can do by myself, she said grinning. Where are you going?

- I dunno.

- Square Grimmauld?

- No, he said grinding his teeth. Probably Remus'.

She looked behind.

- You'll have to ask writing, I'm afraid. He's not listening to anyone right now...

- Is it him who did that to you? he asked pointing her arm.

- He didn't know it was me, she said looking down.

Sirius laughed. It was the first time in eighteen years she heard him laugh.

- I'll miss you, he then said looking into her eyes.

- We'll see each other again, Mr Black, if we don't I'll probably kill myself.

He laughed again before walking forward and taking her in his arms.

That hug meant a lot to both of them. The promise of a friendship that no one could forbid, the forgiveness long-awaited, and most of all the promise of a seeing each other very soon.

When he climbed on Buck again, Lin was crying.

- Live well, Sirius, she shouted when he went away in the lighting sky.

-o-o-o-

When she got back to Remus, he was still yelling on the ground, the ropes scratching his grey skin.

Arleen put a friendly hand on his arm.

- It will be soon over, Remus. Just you wait...

And she lied down next to him once more, closing her eyes until dawn would come.

...

I know, I suck. I froze before this one and I still don't understand why. It's not that long but, once more, I decided to cut the next chapter shorter for it to be more intense...

Hey people! Third year is nearly over! :)