Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Friends Belong to Ms. Rowling/OCs belong to me
Chapter 35: Resurrection
January 2nd 1994
Harry sat down in an empty carriage. None of his friends or family were traveling back on the Express: Draco was portkeying directly to school from France where he was holidaying with his father; Neville and Seville were both sick and would be late returning to school; his sisters, Dudley and Luna had all shunned the Express in favor of a few more hours at home, although Harry thought his sisters' decisions had had more to do with their mother; and Hermione was still at Hogwarts, so Harry was pretty much alone.
He was therefore surprised when the door opened and Hermione walked in.
"Harry, I was beginning to think you hadn't taken the train." Hermione left the door ajar as it was warm in the carriage, and she plonked herself on the seat across from Harry.
"But you were already at school. Why ride the Express?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Hermione fidgeted a little as she spoke.
"What about?" Harry had a feeling she was going to tell him about her and Dae.
Hermione proved him right. "It's about my trip to the Ministry; the one I told you I was taking with Dae."
Harry felt little butterflies in his stomach as she confirmed his assumption. "What about it?"
"We, um, we called off our marriage," Hermione blurted out.
"What about Nott?" Harry asked, despite already knowing.
"The records are sealed until I'm eighteen. Then we'll just tell everyone that we cancelled the wedding," Hermione explained.
"So why did you want to tell me?" Harry crossed his fingers.
"Because I didn't want you to feel bad about what happened anymore." Hermione looked down at her hands.
Harry was disappointed. He had expected her to tell him that she would be free to see him now. "So, you can date whomever you want to then?"
"Yes, but I don't see much dating in my future."
Harry was surprised at Hermione's answer. "Why not?"
"I had a long talk with Dae on the night of the Yule Ball. He made me see that dating isn't everything. I've therefore decided to focus my attention on my schoolwork and my Animagus training."
Harry decided to bide his time. In some respects he could see Hermione's point of view was correct. "That's probably a good idea. I think I might do the same. It's not as if I haven't got enough to do without adding another girlfriend to the mix."
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Harry's response even though she knew she'd invoked it, so she settled for slight sarcasm instead. "Want to avoid another Cho fiasco, do we?"
"Someone talking about my girlfriend?" a voice asked as the carriage door flew open.
Both Harry and Hermione groaned as Jamie Potter walked in.
Harry was feeling far from charitable towards his brother. "What do you want?"
"Well, it's not to apologize if that's what you're expecting," Jamie informed him.
Harry snorted. "As if I'd accept it anyway after the way you've been acting."
Jamie frowned. He had expected Harry to try and make things up with him: He had imagined a grand scene where Harry begged for one more chance and he turned him down. "As I said, I'm not offering. I've just come to warn you to keep away from my girlfriend, particularly after the way you treated her."
"Exactly what do you mean by that?" Harry barked out.
"You know very well what you did, Lupin." Jamie leant forward trying to look intimidating.
Harry almost laughed. After seeing his dad and the alternate version of himself in action, Jamie came across as a rank amateur. "I don't know what pack of lies she's fed you, Potter, but..."
Jamie interrupted and drew his wand. "My girlfriend is not a liar."
Harry didn't retaliate, instead merely saying, "Whatever you say. You're welcome to each other. Now get out."
Jamie narrowed his eyes. "Don't forget. Keep away from her or else."
"Or else what, Mr. Potter?" Severus' silky tones drifted into the carriage.
Jamie gulped and turned to face his teacher. "Nothing, Sir."
"It didn't sound like nothing to me. And your wand drawn as well. Tut! Tut!" Severus pulled himself up to his full height, dwarfing Jamie. "I think twenty points from Gryffindor and a detention with Mr. Filch every Friday for a month for threatening another student."
Jamie said nothing, half-afraid Severus would punish him further if he did, particularly as he already two weeks worth of detentions to serve with Filch.
"Well, boy, what you are waiting for? Get out!" Severus snapped.
Jamie needed no further prompting and fled, just as Harry dropped his head into his hands and groaned.
"May I ask what the problem is, Mr. Lupin?" Severus though didn't really sound as if he cared.
Harry looked up, undaunted by the severity of Severus' tone. "I've got detention with Filch every Friday for a month as well. I'll have to spend hours looking at Potter's ugly face."
Severus struggled to hide his smile and offered up an alternative solution. "You'll be serving your detentions with me instead." Severus turned to Hermione. "You'll be attending as well. I expect both of you to keep at your meditation exercises as we'll be moving on to the practical side of your Animagus training within the next few weeks."
Harry was hard pushed to hide his elation. "Thank you, Sir."
Severus didn't bother to hide his smile this time. "You're welcome, Harry."
"What's your dad doing here?" Harry asked as Severus left the carriage.
"He offered. He said he wanted to take the opportunity to catch up with your dad and Professor Flitwick." Hermione herself had been surprised when Severus first mentioned he would be taking the train with her.
Harry had a feeling that Severus' presence had something to do with the other night, but he was unable to figure out what Professor Flitwick had to do with it. Deciding that he was probably barking up the wrong tree, he said nothing.
Hermione then brought up the very night he had just been thinking about. "So Harry, what happened on New Year's Eve?" Hermione had been disappointed when Professor Lupin had shown up and said that no-one could make it, and had then hotfooted it out of Hogwarts together with her father.
Harry didn't really want to lie but he knew he couldn't tell the truth, so he settled on skirting around the issue. "Pettigrew tried to kidnap Scar. Dae overpowered him but he eventually escaped."
"Poor Scarlett. Is she okay?" Hermione shuddered at the thought of Pettigrew trying to kidnap the sweet little girl.
Harry shook his head. "Not really. I overheard Dad offering to obliviate her this morning, but Mum wouldn't let him. Scar's now afraid of her own shadow and spent most of the last two nights asleep with Mum and Grim watching over her. Mum and Grim had to take turns yesterday trying to get some sleep during the day."
"Grim as in Uncle Grim?" Hermione queried.
"Since Pettigrew escaped we've been staying with Luna's uncle." Harry had been surprised to be woken by his dad telling him to pack up a few things just after he had fallen asleep on New Year's Eve. "Your dad put up wards around the place while Grim helped everyone move in."
"Is your mum seeing Grim?" Hermione asked.
"I asked Dad the same thing. Apparently they're just friends."
"It's good that she's got a friend like that."
Anything Harry might have said had to wait, as the carriage door opened again, this time to reveal Fred and George.
George stepped in and groaned. "Not more lovebirds."
Harry pulled a face. "Very funny, George."
Daphne suddenly stepped out from behind Fred and held out her hand towards her friend. "Look, Hermione."
Hermione dutifully did as she was told. On Daphne's left ring finger sat a small silver and diamond ring. Hermione let out a squeal. "You're engaged?"
Daphne laughed and shook her head. "Don't be daft. It's a promise ring. Fred gave it to me on Christmas morning." Daphne smiled dreamily at Fred, who leered at his girlfriend.
Harry turned to George. "How about you George? Any hot romantic news about you and Angelina?"
George's face became glum. "Fat chance. Angie dumped me."
"But why?" Hermione had pegged George and Angie as a 'forever' couple.
Fred laughed. "Because he gave her a joke set for Christmas. He couldn't understand why she didn't like it."
Daphne nudged Fred in the ribs. "Don't be so mean."
"Perhaps she'll forgive you. Why don't you buy her some chocolates and apologize?" Hermione suggested.
"I've already tried that. I ended up wearing them." George sat down. "Can I stay here with you guys? Having to sit with that pair is nauseating."
Fred rudely stuck out his tongue at his brother. "Come on, Daffs, let's make the most of a little privacy."
Daphne blushed as her boyfriend grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the carriage.
"They've done nothing but snog ever since they first got on the train," George complained.
Harry decided to try and divert George. "Invented any good products lately?"
It worked. George happily babbled to Harry about his latest creation as Harry flashed Hermione an apologetic smile. Hermione just grinned and settled down to the read one of the textbooks she had brought with her.
After the feast had finished, the Ravenclaw friends bid Hermione goodnight and headed off towards their tower. On arriving, Harry collapsed on to a sofa and Luna and Dudley squeezed in beside him. Draco and George flopped down opposite them.
Harry hadn't really had much time to speak to Draco during dinner and was anxious to learn how his Christmas had gone. "So Draco, how did your holiday go?"
"It was great. You're not going to believe it. Dad…" Draco had barely begun when Harry interrupted.
"Draco, since when do you call Craig 'dad'?" Harry asked.
"I don't. I'm talking about my real father," Draco told Harry, grinning at the surprised look on Harry's face. "Lucius told me to call him 'Dad'; he said he wanted us to try and start a new relationship."
"I'm surprised your mother let you go in the first place." Luna knew from Draco that Narcissa had been against the entire thing ever since Lucius had suggested it.
"Craig talked her around," Draco revealed. "I was as surprised as you when she told me on Christmas Eve that I could go."
"So, you were about to say something about your dad." George was nosy and wanted to know what Draco had been about to say.
Draco smiled dreamily. "Dad bought me a new broom. It's in our room. I'll show it to you later."
Dudley's ears pricked up at the mention of the broom. "What did you get?"
"A Firebolt."
George groaned. "You lucky devil! They've only just come out."
Draco's grin grew even wider. "I know."
"So now that you've shown off about what your dad got you, tell us about your brothers and sisters." Harry was more interested in Draco's family than the broom, although the broom came a close second.
Draco looked around the room before speaking as he didn't want Pansy overhearing him. "Fen and Matt are revolting. They're just like their mother, cold and snobby. And Petra's a complete bitch. I don't know why Dad married her."
"Pansy's sister's really like that?" Luna asked.
Draco nodded. "I don't particularly like her."
"Who does like their stepmother?" Dudley asked. "They were always evil in the fairytales Mum used to tell us when we were little."
Luna laughed. "That's just in the fairytales, Dudley."
"Dudley's right. She is a bit of an evil stepmother. Uncle Sirius told me that she has a bit of a reputation for…" Here Draco lowered his voice. "For sleeping with other men."
Harry's face fell at the mention of someone else who was being unfaithful. Luna saw the look and squeezed Harry's hand. She swiftly redirected the conversation. "What were the other two children like?"
Draco's face lit up. "They're great. Sophia and Will look like miniatures of me."
George guffawed. "Poor little blighters."
Draco stuck out his tongue. "It could be worse. They could look like you."
The five children laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the two girls who had just walked into the tower. Harry looked at Luna. "When did that pair get together?"
Luna shrugged. "I've no idea."
"I might know." Draco surprised everyone with his remark. "When I was in France, Pansy was there too. She said that she was writing to Cho now that she had moved into her dormitory."
"Great." Harry scowled. "I'll have them both moaning about what a lousy boyfriend I was."
"What do you mean, was?" Draco asked, unaware that Harry and Cho had split up.
Harry filled Draco in. "…Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I wish I'd never gone out with her in the first place."
Draco laughed. "Don't worry, you won't be alone in being shunned. I turned Pansy down at Christmas. Can you believe she asked me out?"
"Even though you took Auri to the Yule Ball?" Dudley knew that Auri would be unhappy about Pansy, even though Draco had turned her down.
"Even after I did that." Draco shook his head. "I couldn't believe it. I was happy to be her friend but the thought of going out with my stepmother's sister isn't exactly appealing." Draco shuddered.
"You didn't tell her that, did you?" Luna wanted to know.
Draco nodded a little sheepishly. "Yep. She didn't speak to me for the rest of the holiday. I know she and Cho were furiously writing to each other up until we returned to school. In fact, Pansy returned a day early just so that she could ride the Express with Cho."
Harry's scowl grew even bigger. "This just keeps getting better and better. Cho is back with Jamie, and Pansy is her new best friend."
George smiled ruefully. "Looks as though I'm with the right group then, seeing as Angie dumped me and I'm now an unmentionable too."
Luna got up and jumped on to George's lap. "We all love you."
Dudley laughed at Luna's antics. "Yeah, George. We all really, really love you."
George stuck up his middle finger at Dudley, and turned to Luna. "Why don't you dump this loser and run away with me?"
Luna looked as if she was considering George's offer but then she shook her head. "I'm afraid not, George. Dudley has something you'll never have." She then jumped off George's lap and slid back into her original spot.
George held a hand to his heart, pretending to feel wounded. "And that would be?"
"My heart." Luna smiled sweetly at Dudley, who blushed.
George pretended to vomit and turned to Draco and Harry. "What say we leave these lovebirds to it?"
"You mean you want to see what Dad bought me, don't you?" Draco asked.
George nodded. "Of course."
Draco pulled Harry to his feet. "Dudley, you coming?"
Dudley looked pitifully at Luna, who pushed him away from her. "Go on then."
Dudley shot off and Luna curled up on the sofa. She knew that they would probably be extolling the Firebolt's virtues until the early hours; well at least Dudley and Draco would. After yawning several times, Luna decided that she would probably fall asleep if she failed to move, so she got up and headed for the dormitories.
Peter was exhausted; he had been walking for four days. The act of disapparating from the cavern had just about taken him to the limits of his endurance. Like most wizards, he found apparating difficult without a wand, but fear and adrenalin had helped give him the push he needed to escape. However, being injured had made things even worse.
His reserves used up, and afraid of attempting apparition again for fear of splinching himself, Peter had instead resorted to walking. After walking up a Muggle street, not far from where he used to live in Kingstanding, Peter finally came across a house that looked abandoned. After checking no-one was watching, he transformed into his rat form and, after finding a small opening in the front of the house, crawled tiredly in. Unable to find the energy to transform back, Peter curled up under a chair and fell asleep.
The next day Peter woke up, feeling a little better. After rummaging around the house, Peter found a copy of an airline reservation, which told him that the owner wouldn't be back for several days. Happily, Peter found the bathroom, stripped off his dirty and shredded clothing and started to run a shower. Finding a clean towel, Peter stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over him, flinching as it pounded the cuts Dae had inflicted on his chest. Eventually he had to get out and, after finding a first aid kit, rummaged through it until he found some burns cream. After treating himself and finding some clothes to fit him in the master bedroom, Peter set off for the kitchen.
After cooking a meal, Peter wandered into the living room and switched on the TV. Not finding anything to watch, he switched it off and lay back on the sofa. As he tried to get comfortable, he thought about the previous few days. He knew that he shouldn't have threatened Remus' daughter but he had been at his wits' end.
Finding out that Remus had been a Death Eater had been heartbreaking. It looked as though James had been right about not picking Remus for his secret-keeper, not that it had done him any good anyway. Peter, of course, had been telling the truth when he had told Remus that he had been the secret-keeper and that he had not given the Potters up and he began to think about Remus and what it meant as he started to drift off to sleep.
February 1st 1994
Harry woke up screaming again. Ever since the evening in the cavern, he had been having the most horrible nightmares. He had asked Professor Snape to try Legilimency again with him but Severus had refused, explaining that Remus still rather unhappy that Severus had cancelled Harry's detentions with Filch without asking Remus first. Harry knew that if he had not had such a huge workload, his dad would probably have reassigned them for another day. As it was, Remus had still made him attend one detention with Filch during quidditch practice.
Even now, Harry's fingers were still sore from all the scrubbing Filch had made him do. He had kept Harry scrubbing the boys' bathrooms out with a toothbrush until the early hours of the morning. Harry had not dared complain to Remus about it; he had been too worried about being reassigned the three detentions he had gotten out of serving.
His Animagus training wasn't going much better either. With the lack of sleep he was suffering from, Harry had been unable to concentrate on meditating to try and find his form. Hermione was also not having much luck with it either. Professor Snape had called a halt two weeks into the term, with instructions for them to practice their basic meditation exercises. Until they both mastered them, any further practical exercises were on hold.
Harry's screaming appeared to have woken Dudley up as Harry watched his brother pad across to his bed.
Dudley was alarmed at the sight of tears pouring down Harry's face. "Do you want me to get Professor Flitwick, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, his teeth chattering. "Want Dad."
"I'll go get him." Dudley disappeared downstairs to the fireplace, which was hooked up to Professor Flitwick's rooms.
Filius shot out of bed as he heard the insistent pinging of the fireplace, warning him that something was wrong in Ravenclaw. Bending down, he found Dudley's head floating there. "Is Harry unwell?"
Dudley nodded. "He woke up screaming and said that he wants Dad."
"Tell him, we'll both be there shortly." Filius watched as Dudley's head vanished. Filius then threw floo powder into the fireplace and had a quick conversation with Remus, agreeing to meet him at the Ravenclaw dormitories.
A short time later, Harry was tucked up on Remus' sofa clinging desperately to his dad. "Harry, please tell us what's wrong."
Harry was unable to get his words out for crying. Remus turned to Filius. "Can you get Severus and ask him to bring a calming potion? I don't have any here."
After a few minutes, a tired looking Severus padded into Remus' rooms with the requisite potion. "Harry, drink this."
Harry drank it and slowly his crying subsided to a more manageable level, although his shaking still persisted.
"Dudley said you woke up screaming. Was it another nightmare?" Remus asked, now that Harry had calmed down somewhat.
Harry nodded. "Don't want to talk about it."
"Harry, you might feel better if you do," Filius suggested.
Harry stubbornly shook his head. "Don't want to."
Severus stood up. "Perhaps if Filius and I were to leave you two alone for a moment?"
Remus nodded at the bedroom and both Filius and Severus went into the other room. "Do you want to tell me what happened now?"
Harry still shook his head. "It's too horrible."
"Harry, I can't help you unless you tell me what happened." Remus gently stroked Harry's back in a comforting way.
Harry took a deep breath and finally began to open up. "You remember what happened in the cavern?"
"When you had a vision, you mean?"
"Yes, but this one was much worse than that."
Remus wanted Severus to hear what Harry had to say. "Harry, if you wouldn't mind, in retrospect, I'd like to ask Severus and Filius to sit in on this."
Harry didn't really want everyone watching him but after a few moments he nodded in agreement.
Remus went into his bedroom and closed the door behind him. "I think that Harry's had another episode similar to that that happened in the cavern. It might be a good idea if you both came in and listened."
Filius stopped him from leaving the room. "What about the portrait in your room?"
Remus grinned. "I dealt with that a few days after I arrived. Sir Folger rarely hangs around here ever since I set him up with the milkmaid on the fourth floor."
"You couldn't just use a spell like everyone else?" Severus asked dryly.
Remus shook his head. "More fun this way. Think how frustrating it must be for Albus to know that his spy is more interested in chatting up another portrait than watching me. He can hardly place another portrait in here. It would be too suspicious even though I'm still supposed to be his lackey."
Filius laughed. "I like it. The real Flitwick refused outright to have one in his rooms. He told Albus they gave him the creeps."
Severus shook his head in dismay. "If you two have finished swapping stories, I think we should get back to Harry."
Severus left the bedroom and went back into the sitting room where Harry was huddled up on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around his knees. Severus knelt down. "I know it's hard for you, Harry, but take your time, and if you want us to leave, you just need to ask."
Harry smiled a little tremulously at his professor. "Thanks, Sir."
Remus re-took his seat next to Harry and put his arm around him. "So you were saying about the cavern incident."
Harry looked askance at Filius, who hurried to reassure the boy. "I already know all about it. I'll explain later."
Harry started again. "Remember during my vision that I said that Potter was trying to find out where Dad's counterpart was being held?"
Severus and Remus both nodded. Filius just leant back against the chair he was seated in and smiled encouragingly at Harry.
Harry tried to continue. "Potter, Herms and..." He stopped speaking. "I can't do this, Dad. I just can't."
Seeing that Harry was becoming distressed again, Filius stood up. "I have a pensieve in my room. Perhaps if we used that?" he suggested.
Remus nodded, and so Filius left to retrieve his pensieve. Once he returned, Remus instructed Harry on how to retrieve the memory and place it in the pensieve.
"Okay, Harry. We're going to look into the pensieve and view your memory. You can go and lie down in the bedroom if you want to," Remus told his son.
"I'm fine on the sofa."
Remus looked at the two other men. "Are you ready?"
The two men nodded and together the three of them touched the surface of the pensieve. Harry was surprised to see that they were still there but had become motionless.
Harry's Memory
"This should be where he's being held. Any signs of movement?" Potter turned to Shack who shook his head. "Herms, do you want to check and see whether you can spot anyone?"
Herms transformed, a small owl standing in her place. She quickly flew off, before returning a short time later. "There's no-one guarding this place. I don't know about inside though. I scaled the trees but couldn't see anyone in the rooms I could look into. Its looks as if this place has been deserted for years."
"If that little rat has double-crossed me, I'm going to make him wish he'd never been born," Potter snarled. "Let's go."
The small group of five stealthily made their way across the open grounds of the house, checking for any wards or traps that might have been placed in their way. Finding none, they eventually reached the large front door, which easily gave way to Snape's hard push. Snape entered first, wand drawn. There was no sign that anyone had ever been there. The group all entered the house after him. Snape swung around as he heard a slight noise coming from a staircase that led downstairs to what appeared to be a basement.
Making his way down the stairs, Snape could see the door at the bottom of the stairs was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and looked in. What he saw nearly made him vomit. He turned quickly. "Don't go in there."
"Is Remus in there?" Potter pushed forward.
Severus nodded. "Let me deal with it."
Potter ignored him and pushed past. "Oh my God, Remus!"
Potter was nearly bowled off his feet by Tonks rushing by him, only for her to come to an abrupt halt. "What have they done to him?" Tonks' voice was shaking and barely audible.
Severus who was standing right by her answered her question. "Silver nitrate."
Tonks was crying now, tears streaming down her face. "Do something. He's obviously in pain."
Remus was bare from the waist upwards and kneeling in an almost unnatural position, chains locked around his wrist preventing him from collapsing forward. From his position, it was obvious to the onlookers that both of his legs were broken, as was one of his arms. Slashes of varying sizes and shapes covered his chest, face and arms, and a blue-grey substance was leaking out from them. Little of his skin remained intact, and most of it was blackened with a silvery hue. He was unconscious but a low continual moan emanated from his lips, which had also lost their natural pink hue.
Tonks reached forward and gently stroked Remus' hair; she was too afraid to touch him anywhere else. "Remus, honey. It's Dora. It's going to be okay."
The three men in the pensieve watched the scene with horror and dismay; all of them knew that it definitely was not going to be okay.
Remus stirred slightly at Tonks' words. "Dora?" His voice sounded harsh and was barely understandable.
Tonks smiled through her tears. "Yes, Remus. It's me. We're going to get you out of here."
"Kill me," Remus whispered.
"It's going to be okay. Don't worry." Tonks lifted her wand to release Remus from his chains, only for Snape to pull her away. "What are you doing? Let go of me."
Snape nodded at Potter who, with tears in his eyes, shook his head. "I can't do it."
Tonks had obviously worked out what they were planning to do as she started to struggle in Snape's arms. Potter quickly stunned her before she could get free.
"I'll take her. Do whatever it is you need to do." Shack took Tonks from Snape and strolled out of the room.
Potter moved over to Remus, his voice breaking as he spoke. "I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner."
Remus was struggling to speak at all. "'kay, Harry. Not fault."
Herms turned away as Snape pulled out his wand and hesitated.
Remus lifted his head and looked Snape in the eye. "Jus' do it."
"Avada Kedavra," Snape intoned softly.
Herms burst into tears as she heard the words that ended Remus' life.
Potter on the other hand, rushed forward to release Remus from his bonds. "We're not leaving him here."
The memory then went all fuzzy and the three watchers found themselves standing back in Remus' sitting room.
Remus felt sick. He had heard about the effects of silver nitrate but had never seen them first hand before. "Will everyone excuse me?"
Remus barely made it to the bathroom before he vomited. Shaking, he swilled out his mouth. Now he knew why Harry had found it difficult to tell him about what he had seen. He left the bathroom and returned to the others, pale but composed. "I'm sorry about that."
Harry got off the sofa and wrapped himself around Remus. "I'm scared, Dad."
Remus tried to console Harry. "It's just a dream, Harry."
Filius looked contemplative. "I don't think it is."
"What do you think it is then?" Severus asked.
"I'm not entirely certain. I need to speak to my parents." Filius touched his ring and an eagle stood in his place.
Harry watched as Filius flew out of Remus' window. "Wow, Professor Flitwick's got a really cool Animagus."
Harry's smile soon fell off his face though as he thought about the memory that he had placed in the pensieve. He knew he never wanted it back. After he had placed it in the pensieve he could still remember what had happened but if felt dulled now rather than vivid. "Why couldn't they save the other Remus, Dad?"
Severus spared Remus having to answer. "Because of silver nitrate's properties. Short term exposure won't kill you but judging from Lupin's appearance, I'd say that he'd have been beyond saving even if they'd gotten to him within a few hours of the injuries being inflicted. The amount of silver nitrate that was oozing from the wounds would've been a lethal dose. Whoever did it to him had no intention of keeping him alive."
Remus shuddered. "What a horrible way to go."
Harry tightened his grip on his dad. "Isn't there any sort of cure or antidote that can be taken?"
Severus shook his head and explained. "If it's a short exposure then you're normally fine and it can be treated. You might get some purple skin discoloration but that's all. It's when you've been subjected to longer exposure that problems occur. What made it worse in this case is that it looked as if Lupin had been cut and the silver nitrate poured into the open cuts. Silver nitrate is caustic and, being a werewolf, this would have intensified the pain and effects ten-fold or more. The nitrate would have worked its way into that Remus' bloodstream through the cuts."
Harry had not yet covered silver nitrate in his classes but he quickly deduced what Severus was telling him. "It was eating him away, wasn't it?"
Severus nodded. "I'm afraid so. That's why there was nothing they could have done for him. He was too far gone."
Harry looked at Remus. "I don't want the memory back. It's easier to deal with it now that it's in the pensieve."
"That's because you've been left with a shadow of the memory rather than the full brunt of the memory itself," Remus told him. "If it makes you feel better then we can leave it where it is."
"I'd prefer that." Harry yawned.
Fifteen minutes later, a sound at the window signaled that Filius returned. After transforming he turned to the others. "I've arranged for my parents to come here tomorrow at seven."
Severus frowned. "What about Albus?"
Filius grinned. "Don't worry about him. My father will make sure that his attention is diverted elsewhere."
"Do you need Harry here?" Remus asked.
"Yes, my parents both want to speak to him."
"I'll see you both tomorrow then. I'm going to keep Harry here with me overnight," Remus told the two men as they walked towards the door.
Filius turned to Harry. "I'll arrange for a change of clothes to be brought here. Just take it easy and try to get some sleep. I think you should take a day away from classes tomorrow."
Harry smiled gratefully at his Professor. "Thank you, Sir."
Severus nodded at Harry and then Remus, and left before either of them could say anything to him.
"Let's get you to bed. It's almost midnight." Remus picked Harry up and marched into his room, turning the lights down as he shut the door behind them.
Remus had barely managed to fall asleep when Harry began thrashing and screaming. "Harry, wake up."
Harry shot upright and vomited over the bed.
Remus was alarmed at Harry's pallor. "Harry, what's wrong?"
"It was horrible." Harry was white and shaking. "I was outside and there was a stone table with a girl on it, and she was screaming before she went quiet as a man in a silver mask cut out her heart. Then you woke me up."
Remus pulled the covers off the bed and fetched a clean duvet. "Did this feel like one of your visions?"
Harry shook his head. "It felt different. Almost like I was dreaming."
Remus smiled as he tucked Harry up under the duvet. "It just sounds like a bad dream. Possibly brought on by telling us about what happened in your nightmares earlier."
Since it had not been anything like one of his visions, Harry relaxed at his dad's words. "You're probably right. Sorry I woke you up."
Remus stroked Harry's head. "It's all right, Harry. It was just a nightmare. Go to sleep now."
But Remus was wrong, and he had been about to lie down once Harry had fallen asleep again when pain lanced through his left arm. Checking that Harry was still sleeping, Remus stumbled out of bed and grabbed his wand. After closing the door behind him, he turned the lighting up and rolled back his sleeve. The Dark Mark was black and stood out in stark contrast to the pale skin of his arm. Pulling open his trunk, Remus placed his wand into a small hole and he uttered a password he had not had cause to use in over ten years. Grabbing the mask and cloak that lay in the hidden compartment, he quickly headed out of the room.
A few hours later, Virginie pulled open the door to discover a bloody and white-faced Remus leaning against the doorjamb.
Remus struggled to get out his words, his broken ribs making breathing and talking difficult. "Is Severus in?"
Virginie nodded. "Come in." She turned to walk away, only for Remus to lurch forward and collapse, sending them both tumbling to the ground.
Severus heard the crash and hurried out to the sitting room, wand drawn. His wife lay trapped beneath Remus. "What's going on?"
"Just get him off me," Virginie pleaded, pushing at Remus' unconscious body.
Severus cast Mobilicorpus lifting Remus into the air and maneuvered him on to the sofa. "What the hell happened to him?"
Virginie stood up, her white nightgown now spotted with blood. "I don't know. He asked for you, only to suddenly fall on top of me."
After running his wand over Remus, Severus marched over to his cabinet and pulled out several potions, before returning to him. "Enervate."
Remus groaned as Severus lifted his head. "Drink this."
Three potions later, Remus felt able to sit up. "Thank you."
Severus sat down. "What happened?"
"Notice something?" Remus held out his arm. "I had a run in with two people I'd hoped never to cross paths with again."
Severus was fairly certain what the sight of the blackened and vivid Dark Mark meant. "I take it this means that the Dark Lord's back?"
Before Remus could answer, the sound of a gasp filled the room and everyone looked round to find Hermione standing there. "I'm sorry. I heard a crash and then voices. I just wanted to check that everything was all right." Hermione had been staying in her parents' rooms as she had been discussing potions problems late into the evening with Severus, and she hadn't wanted to wake Daphne up by returning to their room.
Severus was obviously about to tell Hermione to go back to bed when Remus put a hand on his arm. "It's okay, Severus, she can stay."
Horrified at the bloodied state of her professor, Hermione moved closer to Remus and spotted his Dark Mark. "You're a Death Eater?" Hermione hurriedly backed off.
Remus could see from Hermione's closed expression that despite her initial reaction to his injuries, she was probably feeling far from benevolent towards him at that moment. "I am."
Distressed at discovering that her favorite professor was a Death Eater, Hermione totally forgot that she wasn't supposed to mention anything about her mother's background, and she swung round to face her parents, her alarm and fear evident. "How can you help him knowing that You-Know-Who tried to force Mama to marry him? He's one of his servants. He'll tell You-Know-Who where Mama is."
Virginie put an arm around a panicked Hermione. "If it wasn't for Remus, I'd have still been with him or, worse, dead. He helped me to escape."
"But he's still a Death Eater," Hermione argued, afraid for her mother, in spite of what Virginie had just told her.
Remus looked across at Hermione who was being held by Virginie. "I was forced to join the Dark Lord; it wasn't my choice."
"Then whose was it?" Hermione demanded, still not quite able to believe what she hearing.
"That doesn't matter right now," Severus interjected. "Remus aided your mother to escape because he couldn't bear to see her being forced to do something she didn't want to." Severus didn't mention the rape. "I would trust him with my life."
Hermione was well aware that her father didn't just trust anyone and, given his former hatred of Remus, she decided to rely on Severus' trust. "Then you're a double agent?"
"Of sorts, yes."
Hermione was about to ask Remus something else when Severus interrupted them. "Hermione, before you continue with your interrogation of Remus, there's something else you should know."
Hermione listened as Severus told her how he had really met her mother and showed her his partial Dark Mark. Hermione sat down heavily, her legs refusing to bear her weight anymore. "So if you hadn't met Mama, then you'd be a Death Eater like Professor Lupin?"
"Your mother saved me."
Hermione smiled tremulously. "I'm glad."
Severus squeezed her hand tightly. "So am I." He then became serious. "Hermione, whatever you hear tonight cannot be repeated. I will manufacture some more of the potion to protect your mind but, as you know, it cannot be taken on a long term basis."
Remus interrupted. "I think I may know someone who can help with that. I'll let you know once I've spoken to them."
Severus felt relieved. "Thank you."
Hermione looked at the state of Remus. She had initially been horrified at the amount of blood that had covered him before being more appalled at the sight of his Dark Mark. "So You-Know-Who did this to you?"
"The Dark Lord's too weak. He had Him do this."
"Who's Him?" Hermione had no idea who Remus was talking about.
Severus filled his daughter in. "Him is the Dark Lord's most faithful servant."
"And you didn't put up a fight?" Hermione knew, as a werewolf, how strong Remus had to be, and she couldn't imagine him just taking this kind of abuse without defending himself.
"Hardly." Remus laughed bitterly. "I'm a skilled combatant but He outclasses me easily. He'd have killed me if I'd resisted."
"So what did the Dark Lord want from you?" Severus knew that Remus had to have been summoned for something specific. Voldemort would never have allowed anyone to see him in a weakened state without very good reason.
"The Vivificus potion, to find Pettigrew, and you… as a werewolf."