Hey hi hello! it's Paddycake back for another chapter. This ain't long so don't get your hopes up. However, you will be pleased to know that the climax is, quite literally, just around the corner. Stick around and enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A figure that looked startling enough like a bird. It had wings like a bird and that much was not uncommon. What Remus found odd was that this bird was silver and wispy, like it wasn't really there. "A Patronus."
Remus looked at Peter, "Pardon me?"
"I said it's a Patronus. That's the only thing that makes sense. There's no way that bird would be that colour and wispy in that way." Peter gave Remus a desperate look, "Do you know what I mean?"
"I think I do, Wormtail," Remus surveyed the Patronus with calculating eyes, "But don't know what it's doing here." The bird suddenly flew off its perch and began to come towards them.
"What's it doing?" asked Peter shakily, clinging to the tree he'd been hiding behind.
"I'm not altogether sure." Remus glanced over at Lily, "Any ideas? You are Head Girl after all."
"I know that, Remus, but I really haven't got a clue." Her green eyes were fixed on the Patronus but she was backing away slowly, "Perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?"
"Well, I was just thinking, why would the Patronus be here? I mean, we saw Death Eaters not even 10 minutes ago. And now, here is a flying bird Patronus heading right for us. Maybe it's just me but I feel like that's a sign."
"A sign?"
The bird Patronus slowly got closer and it opened it's beak to let out a loud high pitched sound. Sirius whined and the rest of the company covered their ears. Why would a Patronus make such a horrific noise? However, when Remus concentrated on it, he could hear the underlining word. Follow.
Remus took a step out from behind the tree. "Remus, what are you doing?" hissed Lily, grabbing at his shirt. The young wizard shook her off and continued to walk towards the Patronus. It was hypnotic, the Patronus, and Remus felt an undeniable attraction to the silver bird.
"Can't you hear it?'
"Hear what?"
"The words." Remus lifted his hand as an invitation for the Patronus to land on it. He could feel a rush of air on his bare palm as it flew down. The bird Patronus cried out again, but this time its words were as clear as day.
"Follow." Sirius' ears perked up and he padded up to Remus, eyes fixed on the bird.
Remus nodded. "I will." The Patronus continued downward until it was mere centimetres away from his hand. However, the moment it touched his skin, the Patronus scattered, swirling and fading around the two of them. What was left of the Patronus settled on their skin (Sirius' fur) while Lily and Peter stood behind, untouched and in awe of the Patronus.
After a few moments, when the wisps had disappeared completely, Lily and Peter dared to more towards them.
"Remus? Are you alright?"
The young wizard turned to her and frowned, "I'm not sure, actually."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know really, but when I look over there," he gestured to the wide expanse of forest that was before them, "I see silver."
Lily looked at the Forest with confused eyes. "I don't see it."
"You don't?" Remus stared through the trees, confused as well, but for a different reason. You see, Remus could see strands of silver that lead into the Forest, moving through the trees to a deeper, more shadowed, area. He wasn't sure why Lily couldn't see it for he could see it as clear as day.
Sirius barked sharply, making his friends look down at him. He gestured with his muzzle to the Forest and began to walk through it. "Paddy, what are you doing?" asked Lily, stepping away from Remus to follow the dog. Sirius just barked, his way of saying, "Follow and you're find out."
Of course, Lily didn't know that. Only those that were familiar to his patterns would have known; people like Remus and Peter for example. So Remus explained to Lily that Sirius/Paddy was a dog that had an amazing sense of smell and that he had probably picked up James' scent; a half truth. Sirius didn't smell James at all. In fact, he, like Remus, was able to see the thin strand of silver that led through the Forest. Like a trail of sorts. He led his friends through the Forest; all but Remus wondering why he was taking the odd sort of path he was for only Remus could see that Sirius was following the silver trail.
It wasn't until much later that Peter begged for rest. Lily had a sort of Muggle contraption on her wrist, which she called a watch, which was used to tell time. She said that they had been walking for the last hour and that, like Peter, she needed a break from the walking. So that sat down and had lunch. Remus was very careful in the food portions he dished out. He didn't want anything to be too uneven and he had a hard time explaining why he had no dog food for 'Paddy'.
"I mean, you shouldn't be able to keep him healthy with human food, should you?"
"As long as we don't give him chocolate, right, Paddy?" Remus watched Sirius' fur bristle and laugh, "Don't take it personally, Paddy, all dogs can't have chocolate." Sirius just gave a growl and settled on lapping 'water' from a bowl Remus had brought.
"How much longer do you think it's going to take, Moony?"
"Well," Remus looked out at the Forest, following the silver trail with his eyes, "not much farther, I hope? Lily? Could you maybe give me the time?"
"The time?" she glanced down at her watch. "12:23."
"Thank you. I suppose, if we're done eating, we will continue walking until we reach James' said location. Alright?"
Lily and Peter nodded, gathering up the empty plates and handing them to Remus. He then shrunk them down and put them in his knapsack. They then stood up and, following Sirius' swishing tail, they walked through the Forest once more.
Hopes high.
"Okay, I am officially lost."
Raven rolled her eyes, and glared through her mask. "Would you shut up, Shine? We really don't have time for this."
She 'hmph'ed and continued to swing her legs off the end of the crates.
"She's right, Shine, we can't afford to be confused. We have to stay on our toes." Knight was leaning against the cold stone wall, eyes fixed on his partner.
"Easy for you to say. All of you are so secretive."
"It's for a good reason," said Angel, voice soft, "Without these masks we are more susceptible to being caught."
"Stop using big words, Angel, it's bugging me," said Shine with another flick of her hair, "Only Fox, Bell and Raven should use big words. They're the bookworms."
"Wha-" gasped Bell while Fox just growled.
"I suggest you listen to Raven and shut your bloody mouth, Shine."
"Peace, children. Give Raven silence. She needs it." Secret voice was quiet but implied power and commanded respect.
The hiding place became quiet once more, save a light snoring in the corner. The group could see Raven's lips moving, her wand up to indicate she was casting a spell. Secret stood beside her, eyes careful.
After a few moments, she lowered her wand and gave a huge sigh.
"Is it done?" he asked carefully.
"It is," she said, a small smiling falling on her features, "Ready your wands. This is going to get chaotic."
finito! i like writing for these Death Eaters. It makes me excited!
and you guys should thank Jacqueline again cuz she's the one that made me post this.
(ps. cardoso, if you're reading this, HI )
plz R&R
