Chapter 25

"I'm glad to see you're alright, Remus. We were worried about you." Albus Dumbledore said as he entered the infirmary.

Remus smiled sadly as he supported his injured arm. "It's glad to be back, Albus."

"You don't seem happy." Albus observed.

Remus shook his head and lean against his pillow. "Can't hide that from you, can I?" He looked away, refusing the meet Albus's eye. "I feel like a horrible person that's why."

"Oh, and why is that, Remus?"

Remus glanced at the Headmaster before turning away again, his eyes full of anguish. "Because I am actually upset that Voldemort doesn't have Harry."

Albus raised an eyebrow. "Upset? Why?"

"If Voldemort had Harry then we would at least know where Harry was and we would be able to rescue him But not even Voldemort knows where he is and…and…does this make me a horrible person, sir?" Remus looked at Albus, wanting and needing some words of wisdom.

Albus shook his head. "No, Remus. Even I wish the same thing, but then I remember what Voldemort is capable of. We don't know if Harry is happy where ever he is. If he is happy, do you really want to take that happiness away for captivity? Yes, if Harry was with Voldemort then we would be able to attempt a rescue, but at what cost? Would he be the same boy we know or would captivity in the hands of Voldemort change him?"

"But what if he isn't happy where ever he is? What if he is in more pain there then he would be with Voldemort?" Remus questioned.

"And questions like that is why wishing Voldemort had him doesn't make you a horrible person, but I would like to think Harry is happy wherever he is. It helps my ageing soul."

Remus nodded. "In Harry's third year I would like to say we gotten close…" He said changing the subject. "But then I started to distant myself when I realized Sirius was there to take care of Harry. I didn't want Harry to rely on me, a werewolf that could barely make a living. So, I let myself get distant from him thinking Sirius would always be there to help him. Now, Sirius is gone and I feel like I'm the only one left to take care of him. I'm doing a lousy job, aren't I?" Remus said with a humorless chuckle. "Now, I'm afraid I'll never see Harry again. That I'll be alone all over again."

Albus placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Harry will come back, Remus. He will return."

Harry ate his breakfast much more eagerly and his two friends noticed. "You seem…happy." Hermione said as she watched him eat his toast.

He nodded before taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "Of course I am." He smiled. "For the past one and a half mouths I've been worried and concerned about two Remus's. Now, I know one of them is all right. He's alive and safe. Now, I only have to worry about one Remus. Which happens to be the Remus I am most concerned about." Harry said, as he placed his toast down, not in the mood to eat after the reminder.

Hermione, of course, had no idea what Harry was talking about and Neville never even thought of a Remus in Harry's world and didn't know he was in any sort of trouble. He looked confused as he asked, "How do you know that?"

"Later." Harry told him as he pushed his food away.

"What on earth are you talking about, Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry opened his mouth, but quickly closed it when he realized what he almost did. He faked a smile and shook his head. "Nothing. Just talking about my uncle Remus Jameson and my uncle Remus…Smith." He lied. "They were both sick. Now my uncle RJ is better, but I'm still concern about Uncle Smith. Smith though was a whole lot sicker then RJ. He could die."

Hermione gave him a look that stated just how much she believed him. "Well, I do hope your uncle will be alright. Send my best wishes." She said, not sounding like she believed him.

Harry took his seat between Neville and Hermione just as Professor Potter walked in. "Today we will be finishing up the Unforgivable Curses. As you should remember from our last lesson, we were talking about where the Curses came from and why they are called the Unforgivables. Today we will be learning what they do and how do defend yourself against them. Can someone tell me what the Imperius Curse do?"

A few students raised their hands, Hermione included. Harry didn't. He didn't want to bring any attention to himself and the Unforgivable Curses are a sore subject for him. So many he knew fell to such curses.

"Mr. Thomas."

Dean looked startled. His hand hasn't been up. He sat up in his seat. "Umm…the Imperius Curse controls people against their will."

Professor Potter stared at him sternly. "That is a first year answer, Mr. Thomas. I want a sixth year answer. Mr. Jameson, please tell us in more detail."

Harry sat up, not prepared for Professor Potter to talk directly to him. After last night, Harry thought Professor Potter would ignore him completely. "The Imperius Curse causes the victim to obey the commands of the caster. It makes you feel this complete, wonderful release from any sense of responsibility or worry. You're happy and carefree able to do anything the caster commands you to do, dance, sing, murder, rape, anything. After you are off the curse you can remember everything you did while under it. You would be able to remember yourself killing your children or raping an innocent girl."

There was a strange silence in the room, which was quickly broken by the Professor. "Thank you, Mr. Jameson." The Professor eyed him before moving away from him. "How about the Cruciatus Curse? Anyone? Mr. Longbottom."

Harry cringed, thankful this Neville had his parents. Harry's Neville had lost his parents to this curse, just like Harry lost his parents to the Killing Curse.

"The Cruciatus Curse brings pain to the victim and one must have a desire to cause pain in order to perform the curse?" Neville answered, uneasily.

Professor Potter nodded. "That is true. Does anyone else have anything more?" Harry kept his mouth shut. "Come on. Can anyone describe more about the curse to me?"

"It's like a million knives hitting your body at once and your body is burning. There is this sensation of flaming bones and a head that was split opened. You're in pain everywhere and can't escape it. There is no physical evidence of the curse, but even afterwards you can feel the pain raking your body." Harry answered, even though he kept telling himself not to.

Once again silence met his answer. "Thank you, Mr. Jameson. Now we're going to move onto the Killing Curse. What can you tell me about the Killing Curse? Anyone? Ms. Granger."

"That curse causes instant death. There is no way to block it and no counter-curse. No one has ever survived it. Using the curse can earn you a life sentence at Azkaban." She answered confidently.

Professor nodded. "Good job, Ms. Granger. That is correct. I'm going to go around the room and I want each of you to tell me which curse you can defend yourself against and how. Starting with Ms. Bones. "

Susan looked scared as she stumbled over her words. "Ummm…the…the Imperius Curse with a…a shield?"

"Ms. Abbott."

Hannah blushed at the attention given to her. "The Cruciatus Curse with a…counter-curse?"

So Professor Potter went around the room. Students gave their answer to him. Most the answers were stupid in Harry's opinion. Someone said you could block the Killing Curse with a spell even though Hermione had already said it couldn't be blocked. 'Shows you how much people actually listens to her.' Harry thought in disgust.

By the end of class, Professor Potter looked disappointed by the lack of knowledgeable people. Only a few people like Harry and Hermione managed to answer correctly. The answer being the Imperius Curse by your own will power.

Just as the class was about to file out of the room, Professor said, "I might not be here for a few days. I have some business to take of. Mr. Jameson, may I see you for a moment?"

Harry nervously waited until everyone was out of the room before making his way to Professor Potter's desk. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Do you have a free period right now?" He asked.

Harry shook his head. "No, sir, I have Herbology next."

The Professor sighed as he leaned over his desk and started writing on at the edge of a piece of paper. "Come down on your free period." He tore the part of the paper off and gave it to Harry. "This would get you into class."

Harry's free period happened to be right after lunch. He left Neville and Hermione at the library and continued on his way to the DADA classroom. He sighed nervously when he reached the wooden door before knocking lightly.

"Come in."

Harry opened the door and was surprisingly surprised to see third year Ravenclaws and Slytherin's staring at him with their books out. Professor Potter was standing the front of the room and it looked like he was giving a lecture. "Umm…you wanted to see me on my free time, sir." He said feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Yes, that is true. Come on in, Mr. Jameson and close the door behind you." Harry did as he was told. "Wait for me in my office. I'll be there in a moment."

Harry made his way towards the front of the room, conscious of all the stares he was getting. He quickly made his way up the stairs to Professor Potter's office.

"Now, class I want you to start your essays and turn it in, finish or no, by the end of class. I'll be upstairs in my office if anyone needs anything."

Harry sat on an armchair that was against the wall, waiting for the Professor to come up. The office didn't look much different then Remus's back in third year. Potter's office just looked a bit more…personal. There were photos on the desk and some were hanging on the wall. The chairs were much more comfortable then Remus's.

Professor Potter came into the room and closed the door behind him. He sat at his desk and motioned for Harry to move closer. Once Harry was seated in the chair across from him, the Professor asked, "What do you have after your free period?"

"Potions, sir." Harry answered.

The Professor gave a grin. "I hope you don't mind missing some of it. 'Cause you just might."

Harry grinned back and shook his head. "No, sir, though Professor Snape might not like it if I'm late."

"He doesn't even like it when you're on time so there isn't much of a difference." The Professor turned serious, as he was about to approach the reason he sent for Harry. "There are a few things I wanted to talk to you about."

"Does one of them have anything to do with the reason you're leaving for a few days?" Harry interrupted.

The Professor nodded. "Yeah, but we'll talk about that later. Right now I want to discuss your lessons."

"My lessons?" At first Harry thought he was talking about his classes at school, but then he remembered the summer lessons he had. Once school started he hasn't been taking them. No one had said anything about them since school started.

"Yes, your lessons. We have to start them up again soon. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Sirius would come by on Monday around seven p.m. and I would take Saturday at four p.m. and Moody would come around seven on Wednesday. You will meet Sirius and Moody in the Room of Requirements and come to my classroom on Saturdays. You'll start as soon as I get back."

"Sir, what about my lessons on potions and Occlumency?"

"Professor Snape refuse to teach you when you're not paying attention, when you're sulking and willowing in self-pity. His words not mine." Professor Potter sighed. "Which brings me to our next topic of conversation? I should have talked to you before, but…I didn't. Mr. Jameson, I want to know why you haven't been getting enough sleep lately?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "You don't have to worry about that, Professor."

"I am worrying about it, Har…Mr. Jameson." He corrected quickly. "It was affecting your studies near the end of summer and it is affecting your studies now. You don't participate in class. Besides today, you usually give stupid one-word answers. You barely eat, you have bags under your eyes, and you are paler then I ever seen you."

Harry allowed himself to slouch in his seat. He didn't look at the Professor. "It's none of your business anyhow, sir."

"Not my business!? Of course it's my business. I'm your bloody fa…" The Professor stopped short.

Harry snapped his eyes back to his professor, begging him to say it. He'll do anything if the man before him admits it. Anything. It would mean a lot to Harry if he says it. "Sir?" He asked, his eyes pleading and begging.

The man sighed and said, "I'm your bloody professor." Harry moved his eyes away and his shoulders fell with disappointment. "And as your professor, it is my business when it is affecting your studies."

"It won't affect my studies anymore, sir. What I've been worried about has been taken care of. Everything is okay now."—Besides the fact that the Remus from this world may be dead—Harry thought to himself.

A knock on the door interrupted them. "Come in." The DADA professor called.

One of the Slytherin third year girls came in. "I'm sorry, Professor Potter, but I don't understand the second part of the essay. I don't know how or why laughter is a defense against boggart. It doesn't say anywhere in the book."

"Ms. Night, I want your own opinion. Why do you think laughter is a good defense and why? That answer wouldn't be in the book. And I can't help you since I might have a different opinion on the matter."

"Oh." The girl looked embarrassed. "Sorry, sir for disturbing you."

"It's quite alright, Ms. Night. Now if you please excuse us." She left quickly. Once she was gone, the Professor sighed and looked back at Harry. "Rather or not it will affect you here on out, I don't care. Just tell me what happened to make you so…so…dead."

Harry had a little debate in his head. Tell or not to tell? Why should he tell? He shook his head. "It really was nothing, sir."

"It certainly was something, Mr. Harry Potter." The Professor said, purposely using Harry's real name. "You're not leaving here until you tell me."

Harry debated in his head again. "Fine. It was just a vision I had. That's all. It had me worried, but last night I had another vision that showed me everything was alright."

"What was the vision about?" Professor Potter asked gently.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "It was just a vision of my world, sir. That's all. No importance." The Professor stared at him without saying a word and Harry felt himself crack under the intense stare. "The Remus from my world was captured by Voldemort and I was just…just worried about him, that's all. And until last night I didn't have any visions telling me if he was all right or not. And then the Remus you know got captured and that had me worried as well. Not only that…" Harry said passionately, forgetting whom he was talking to. "…but I then had a vision about the Remus from here, the Remus you know, and…and that vision had me even more worried. Finally, though I had a vision last night that eased some of my worries. The Remus from my world was at Hogwarts talking to the Headmaster with what appears to be only a broken arm."

Professor Potter nodded, thoughtfully. "The vision you had about Remus…ah, the Remus I know…what was it about?"

Harry refused to say anything and kept his eyes trained on the floor. His mind was telling him Professor Potter had the right to know, but his heart couldn't bare it if his father broke down in anger or tears at the high possibility of losing Remus, one of his dear friends.

The Professor seemed to notice. "Was he…killed?" He asked with difficulty.

"I…I don't know. Possibly." Harry answered as truthful as possible. He kept his eyes lowed to the floor.

There was this awkward silence before the Professor spoke again. His voice soft and full of pain. "About Remus. We discovered how he was taken and I thought you would want to know. Apparently, Voldemort knew we were trailing suspected Death Eaters and asked Snape, which Death Eater Remus was trailing. Snape lied to him. Told him a name of a Death Eater no one was following at that moment. On the night Remus was…captured he left the house following his assigned Death Eater, but for some reason started to follow a different Death Eater."

"The Death Eater Snape told Voldemort he was following." Harry concluded.

Professor Potter nodded. "Yes. We don't know why or how Remus started to follow that Death Eater, but the end results…well, you know." Paused. "The reason I'm leaving for a few days is because Sirius found a lead and I'm not letting him go alone."

"A lead? What lead?"

The Professor shook his head. "That's something I'm not going to tell you."

"Why are you telling me this, sir?" Nobody ever tells him anything that's how it's always been. "Not that I'm complaining." He said quickly.

Professor Potter leaned against the back of his seat and shrugged. "I just thought you would want to know and you have gotten close to Remus while you're here."

Harry was grateful that someone would tell him what's going on. He's usually out of the loop with only Sirius trying to tell him things behind Molly Weasley's back. "Thank you, sir."

"I'll write you a pass to potions." The Professor chuckled. "You seemed to miss the first quarter of potions class." He wrote Harry a pass and sent him on his way.

Remus stared at the moon through the bared window with worried filled eyes. The full moon was in two days. He glanced at the sleeping figure lying beside him. It didn't take a genus to know what Voldemort was planning. For the one and half mouths Voldemort had him, Remus never shared a cell with anybody. Now, two days before the full moon, Remus was sharing a cell. That's not a coincidence.

He knows why Voldemort is doing it too. It's his punishment for what happened a mouth ago.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"No!" Remus shouted diving to save Elise. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to the ground just as the green curse flew across their heads. His shoulder throbbed in pain when he hit the floor.

Voldemort stood over them, his eyes narrowed in anger. But the glare didn't affect Remus; instead he glared right back at him. He sat up with Elise clinging onto his arm, her face buried into his chest, soaking his clothes with her tears.

"That will cost you, Lupin. Send them back to their cells." He yelled to his Death Eaters.

Remus shook his head, remembering the horror he felt when they shoved Elise in the cell with him. As soon as Elise saw him, she threw herself into his arms and sobbed, not knowing the danger that approached. Not knowing that on the full moon, he would kill her. Remus wanted to push her as far away from him as possible, but every time he tried she would cling to him tightly.

He looked back at the moon, his eyes unknowingly turning ember in its light. He glanced back down at the sleeping girl. He always feared full moons, always feared his mind turning into something atrocious. But never had he feared such fear for it as he does right now. He fears it more now then he ever had before, fears the killing machine he will become, fears killing little Elise.

The house was old, musty, and ivy was growing up the walls. The ivy was the only thing holding the structure up. The yard around it was over grown and yellow. Around the yard was a beat up wooden fence with a small gate hanging off its hinges. A stone path led up to the front door that was also hanging off its hinges. It was a small house with two broken windows and creaky porch and a half broken chimney. Gray paint was pealing off the sides of the house, showing this dull brown color beneath it. In front of the house was an old dirt road, an abandoned and forgotten road. On the other side of the road, across the house, were woods with tall trees that stood much too close to each other. The moon shinned over the house, making it look even spookier. The moon looked full since it was the night before the actual full moon. The sound of crows and the wind was the only sound that could be heard.

Behind the cover of the trees, James Potter observed the building and its surroundings before turning to question his friend and brother, Sirius Black. "Are you sure your sources are right? You think Remus is in there?"

Sirius looked at the house with a grimace. "It does seem rather unlikely, doesn't it? Can't sense any magic around the place."

James gave him a look. "Sirius, you can't sense magic. Only people like Albus and unfortunately, Voldemort would be able to sense magic." James flicked his wand and murmured a spell under his breath. "There is no magic in the area, at least my spell hasn't detected any." He looked at Sirius. "Should we risk it and go in?"

Sirius looked at the house, uncertain. "It wouldn't hurt to check it out." He cast the disillusionment charm on himself and James quickly did the same before they stepped out of the canopy of the trees.

They cautiously moved across the abandoned road to the house. The gate made a loud screeching noise when James attempted to open it. It made both of them cringed. "Great. If they didn't know we were here, they surely know now." Sirius whispered. "Why don't we just owl Voldemort and tell him where we are?" He said sarcastically without any humor.

James ignored him, but secretly agreed the gate had made too much racket. He walked quietly up the stoned path to the broken door, wishing they had brought backup. The stairs of the porch groaned under their weight. They finally reached the door, James standing against the wall on one side and Sirius against the wall on the other. James peered into the house, trying to see anything, but it was too dark. He could only see an empty hallway. He took off the disillusionment charm so Sirius would be able to see him. Sirius followed his example and took his off as well.

James pointed inside the house, indicating his decision to go in silently. They moved quietly, James first with Sirius close behind him. Just when they walked through the doorway, James felt his stomach tighten and a familiar pull at his naval.

I was really debating if i should kill Elise off or not....thats why it took SOOOOO long to update this chapter...i just couldnt decide...should i have killed her off?? To late to change it now...though i can kill her off some other way if you guys want me too...she's not all that imporant in the story....REVIEW PLEASE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!!!!