Thanks to shugokage, Rori Potter, noamg, lyaser53, Nanchih, Reishin Amara, hotflower901, traviswj and the guests who left feedback!
PART THIRTY-SEVEN
November 10, 1984, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England
Remus smiled gratefully as the pretty brunette set the pile of books onto the table in front of him. "Here we go. An absolutely wealth information on Neronian Literature. I think this should be enough to get us started."
Remus, who was looking very pale and worn so soon after the moon, raised his head up from his hand to glance at his companion. "Thank you so much, Abbey. I feel so ungentlemanly asking you to get the books. I'm just feeling a bit weak right now. I'm not having a terribly good week."
Abbey nodded slowly. "I've noticed you have a lot of not very good weeks. You missed all of the lectures on Monday." She worried her lower lip. "What's wrong, Remus?"
Remus went very still and observed Abbey. She was very pretty. He had fancied her since the beginning of term and had honestly been trying to work up the courage to ask her out on a date. She was also very smart, thus Remus shouldn't have been surprised she'd noticed something odd about his disappearances from class.
He couldn't leave her with absolutely no explanation. Oh, he wasn't about to tell her the truth. He might have wanted to go out with her, but this wasn't like his parents. His father had told his mother he was a wizard within a day of meeting her. That had worked out well for them, as they were still happily married. However, Remus wasn't sure he felt that strongly about Abbey. Besides, being a werewolf was very much different than simply being a wizard.
"I have an illness," Remus explained softly. "It leaves me feeling quite tired a lot of the time. It's really not something I like to discuss much."
The colour seemed to drain from Abbey's face as she looked Remus over, at his thin, pale body. She shifted her seat away from him a little bit. "It's not..." She trailed off and looked worried. "That one that's been affecting all those haemophiliacs and homosexuals, is it?"
"Oh no!" Remus shook his head. He read the Muggle papers and knew what disease she was referring to. Ironically, the way the Muggles were reacting to it was very much how Wizards reacted to lycanthropy. He suffused with what little colour his pallid cheeks could manage. "It's a chronic illness I've had since I was a little boy. I manage it, but I still get very tired."
"Oh." Abbey nodded. She then gave Remus a weak smile. "That's not really much of an explanation, Remus."
Remus smiled apologetically. "That's about the only explanation I can-" He cut himself off quickly, a horrible knot in his stomach. The air seemed to have changed. This dark feeling of foreboding set over him. It was something he hadn't felt in years. Not since...
"Get down!" Remus shouted, grabbing Abbey and shoving her beneath the table, knocking over the pile of books she had brought for them to go through for the papers.
The movement was just in time as a shot of red sparks shot right where they had been. It hit one of the large shelves and ripped through the books, scattering torn paper into the air.
Remus's wand was out in an instant and his hazel eyes were hardened in determined concentration.
"What is going on?" Abbey demanded, panic lacing her voice.
Remus spotted them, storming into the library, black cloaks billowing and flat white masks shielding their identities. There were only two of them, but he was the only wizard on campus as far as he knew. He was one person and there were plenty of innocent Muggles in the way. Things could get very nasty very fast.
"Something very bad," Remus replied, looking into the girl's fearful face. "Just run. Don't look back."
Abbey nodded and took off running.
Remus rose to his feet and strode to face the Death Eaters, his wand held in front of him. "I expect since I am the only wizard here and you haven't been engaging in Muggle-Baiting since your Master fell, you're looking for me." He glanced between them. "Two against one is hardly fair. Then, you lot have never given much respect to the proper rules of duelling."
"Where is he?" A dark voice inquired, a very long, dark wand trained on Remus.
"I have no idea whom you are referring to," Remus said mildly. Of course he knew who the Death Eaters were talking about, but he would not break, would not allow himself to waver in his protection of Harry.
"Crucio!" One of the Death Eaters cried.
"Protego!" Remus shouted, a blue glow surrounding him, the red sparks bouncing off of it.
He was only able to shield against the first curse. When the second Death Eater cast his spell, it struck him in the chest and he doubled over as red-hot knives seemed to lance through his body.
His vision swam as the curse coursed through him. He took a deep, shuddering breath. If anyone could withstand the pain of the Cruciatus, it was him. After all, his body broke and reformed twice a night every full moon. No matter how potent the magic, nothing could replicate that agony.
The weariness of past full moon seemed to intensify as the Cruciatus curse worked its way through his body, but Remus could not yield. "Expelliarmus!" He shouted, dislodging the wand from one of the Death Eater's hands, causing it to arch up gracefully towards the ceiling and landing with a thump on the ground.
He had no time to disarm the other Death Eater. Wheezing for breath, he stumbled into the stacks, dodging curses as they were shot towards him. He threw his own back, but was stymied by his need for cover. One of the curses hit him, feeling like a powerful punch to the face. He stumbled, but kept on his path towards the stacks.
The enemy he'd disarmed had already gotten his wand back and was trying to hit him, but was going terribly wide. He'd ended up striking several of the walls, cracking them. Remus wondered if the building was going to be able to withstand this attack or if it might have to be torn down after.
Remus took shelter in a darkened corner, putting his back to the wall. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He recalled seeing the stag, rat and bear-like black dog for the first time and his friends transforming back, laughing about how much fun they were going to have now. A small smile came to Remus's face. He didn't know much wordless magic, but he knew this one. He had after all, had a big hand in the innovation of it. Inside his head, he could hear the words clearly: Expecto Patronum Communicatio. He concentrated on the message he wanted to impart.
The elegant falcon emerged from Remus's wand, but disappeared a moment later.
He wretched, blood dribbling from his mouth. He looked up at the Death Eaters who approached him menacingly. He spat the blood that had gathered in his mouth out and pulled himself up to his full height. "Right then." He pointed his wand.
"Just get Neville and Lex to safety!" Alice shouted to her mother-in-law as she hurled another hex at the trio of Death Eaters who had attacked while she and Augusta were talking a walk with the children. She could see the haze of her mink Patronus disappearing, alerting Frank to the attack on her. She just hoped he would receive it in time.
She could hear both of her sons howling, but could not comfort them. Her only thought was protecting them. She had snapped back into the mindset of the war. Take them down, keep on fighting.
Augusta had her hands full with Neville howling in her arms and trying to push the pram containing her other wailing grandson. She still had her wand clutched tightly in her hand, throwing up shield charms to block the children as best she could.
"Run!" Alice bellowed, her voice husky with ferocity. "Apparate with them if you have to! Just get out of here!"
A spell hit her in the chest and she flew back, hitting the ground hard. She let out a groan, trying to lift herself back up.
Before she could right herself, one of the Death Eaters placed his foot on her wrist, pressing down hard. She howled as the bond broke with a sickening crack. The Death Eater leaned in close, the expressionless mask filling her with dread. "Your boy was a target of the Dark Lord," the voice hissed out and for a horrified moment, Alice thought it sounded familiar. "Once we get rid of him and Harry Potter, he will be able to return."
"Over my dead body," Alice hissed.
The Death Eater chuckled darkly. "That was part of the plan, Mrs Longbottom."
The Death Eater suddenly went rigid and collapsed on top of Alice. With a grunt, the pain in her wrist shooting through her arm, she pushed the Death Eater off of her and she took Frank's hand to help her up. "It's about time you got here."
"Some Muggles got attacked," Frank replied, giving his wife a relieved smile at seeing her alive. "Besides, never known you to need help before."
He got back to back with her, both of them holding their wands out- Alice's in her left hand- in front of them. "You all right?"
"Your mother has the kids," Alice replied. "That one on the ground mentioned Harry. Impedimenta! DAMMIT!" Her spell missed the Death Eater who had collapsed on top of her just as he disapparated. "We have to get a message to Sirius!"
Just then, the silvery falcon soared into her field of vision. It stopped in front of her, speaking in Remus's voice, "Ashmolean Museum has been attacked. I'm pinned down by Death Eaters. They're after Harry. Get out!"
Frank's fierce expression faltered slightly as he looked over his shoulder at his wife. "If they're mounting multiple attacks and aren't afraid to let us know Harry is a target..."
"They know where he is," Alice finished. "They know we don't have time to get him to safety."
"Right." Frank nodded, the determined look returning to his features. "We have to let Sirius and Yuki handled it. They're trying to hurt our own boys."
Alice nodded, her own expression become hard and cold. "Once more into the breech, Darling?"
Sirius was in the bedroom shared by Harry and JJ. He had been reading to them from Tales of Beedle the Bard. While the kids had desired another one of Remus's Latin Muggle stories, the werewolf was staying late at school. The pair of boys seemed entertained none-the-less. Noriko was already asleep on Harry's bed, clutching tightly to the lion Sirius had given the boy for Christmas several years ago.
Harry was about to turn the page for Sirius when the Intruder Charm went off. He threw his hands over his ears. "Padfoot!" He yelped.
Sirius's wand was immediately out and in his hands. Remus, Yuki, the Tonkses and the Longbottoms knew the counterspell to keep the charm from going off. Whoever had tripped it was an unwelcomed presence. Perhaps it was an unsuspecting Muggle trespassing on what they thought was an abandoned property, but Sirius couldn't take that chance.
"Stay here with your sister," Sirius said to both Harry and JJ, waving his wand at the windows to seal them. "Make sure she's okay." He glanced over to the bed. Noriko was awake already and crying.
"It's okay, Nori... Harry and JJ will take care of you." He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Harry looked up at Sirius, his emerald eyes filled with fear. "Is it the bad man?"
Sirius swallowed hard. "Just stay with your brother and sister, Harry."
Sirius strode out of the room and shut the door tightly, waving his wand to seal it shut magically. He cast an Inperturbable Charm as well, keeping the noise of the Intruder Charm out of their room- and the noise of their crying inside.
Yuki ran into the house, wand clutched in her hand and several dangerous looking weapons at her waist. Her eyes were wide.
"What is it?" Sirius asked.
"It's them," Yuki replied, looking back. "I saw them from my workshop. I think there's three of them, but there could be more."
A moment later, Remus's Patronus appeared, speaking its message. Sirius growled softly. "Oh, you think, Moony? Thanks for the warning."
"We have to get the kids somewhere safe," Yuki said.
"We thought here was safe," Sirius intoned darkly.
"No time to argue about that," Yuki muttered. The windows in the front room blew out and it was only quick Shield Charms from both Yuki and Sirius that stopped them from being cut to ribbons.
Sirius got back-to-back with Yuki, facing off against the Death Eater striding towards him. "We just have to... Dammit." He looked over his shoulder briefly at his fiancée. "You know, it was a really brilliant idea making it so we can't disapparate on the property."
"It's the only way we could make it so no one could apparate onto it," Yuki snapped back, drawing the Wakizashi from her belt, wield it in her right hand, her wand in her left. "No time to make a Portkey and they'll follow the kids through Floo."
Sirius grimaced. "Right then. Going to have to fight out way out."
Yuki swung her sword at the Death Eater coming at her. An arc of flames blocked his path. "Was always better at the straight fight."
Sirius noticed the Death Eater at the side coming towards them and threw a stunner. It missed and the red sparks thrown from his wand caught him in the chest. The pain seared through him and he howled.
"SIRIUS!" Yuki cried.
"Just keep them off the kids!" Sirius's voice was laced with agony. He raised his wand in a trembling hand. "Impedimenta!"
The other Death Eater that had been attacking Sirius moved towards the door of the kids' room. He pointed his wand at the door, trying to break the charms Sirius had placed on it.
"Expelliarmus!" Yuki shouted, dislodging his wand from his hand. She raced towards him.
"Bitch!" The Death Eater cried, backhanding her and sending her flying.
Yuki hit the ground hard. She let out a cried of pain, but forced herself onto her hands and knees, trying to pull herself up.
The Death Eater had retrieved his wand and pointed it at her. "Crucio!"
It was now Yuki's turn to scream as the Torture Curse lanced through her. Her vision swimming, she waved her wand and whispered a Japanese spell. It was harder to block against foreign spells, not knowing the intent of the caster. It worked and the spell lifted as the Death Eater was now distracted by the painful pustules erupting on his skin.
Sirius and Yuki were outnumbered. They could only deal with one Death Eater at a time and the spare was constantly bombarding the door with spells to attempt to get to Harry.
"This isn't working!" Sirius yelled.
"We've got to run for it!" Yuki cried.
Knocking back the Death Eater attacking the door, Sirius and Yuki got in front of it, shoulder to shoulder. He looked over at her. "I'll grab JJ and Harry and head towards my bike. You grab Noriko and keep covering me."
Yuki gave a nod, looking up at Sirius, her eyes filled with fear.
"I love you, you bleeding bitch," Sirius whispered.
Yuki nodded. "I love you too, baka na inu."
Yuki threw up a Shield Charm while Sirius lifted the charms on the door. The sounds of the children howling filled the house. Sirius ran in, grabbed up Harry and JJ. He kept his wand tightly in his hands, but could no longer aim as long as he was hampered carrying the pair of them.
"Come on, Yuki!" Sirius bellowed, seeing her throw another Stunner that was deftly blocked by one of their opponents. "Gotta go!"
Yuki sheathed her sword, but kept her wand out. She scooped up her daughter in her arms, continuing to throw spells as best she could. She blew out the glass in the window to allow Sirius an escape route. "Get out with the boys! Noriko and I are right behind you!"
Sirius leapt out the window, clutching both boys tightly. Now out in darkness of the night, he saw a figure limping onto the property. His breath caught in his throat, but he relaxed when he realized it was Remus.
"Moony!" Sirius ran up to him. "Picked a devil of a time to come home."
"They disapparated," Remus wheezed. "I knew they were heading here. I had to follow... I splinched myself."
Sirius looked over Remus. "Think you were a right mess before the Splinching." He handed JJ over to him, knowing the werewolf would not be able to bear the weight of four-year-old Harry. "Going to need wand up, Soldier."
With JJ now with Remus, Sirius had his wand hand free once again. He could see the two Death Eaters- the ones Remus had no doubt been tussling with- heading towards him. He threw a Shield Charm quickly followed by a Stunner, but it was difficult to fight while holding his adoptive son. He caught a curse on the neck, the skin erupting in boils. He looked over at Remus.
Remus was having even more trouble just producing magic, losing blood profusely from where he had been splinched and the numerous injuries caused by the Death Eaters. He let out a howl of pain, nearly matching the ones let out by Sirius and Yuki when they had been hit by the Cruciatus. Magic was agonizing for him while so weak.
"Get to my bike!" Sirius yelled. He raced towards the motorcycle that was stashed next to Yuki's workshop.
"Which one of the brats is Potter?" One of the Death Eaters asked his fellows.
"Just kill all of them," Another replied.
Sirius reached his bike, placing Harry in the sidecar. He looked back at the fray. Yuki was still combating against several Death Eaters, while Remus...
"MOONY!" He cried, watching in horror as Remus's Shield Charm gave up and the weakened werewolf crumpled to the ground, JJ still clutched in his arms.
Sirius put a Shield Charm around the sidecar and looked to Harry. "You have to stay here. Don't move. I need to get Moony and JJ."
"Padfoot!" Harry wailed.
Sirius looked at Harry, a pained look in his face. But he couldn't stop. He had to keep going.
He ran to where Remus had fallen, picking up his howling son and looking over Remus. He was still alive, but unconscious. "Dammit, Moony..." He picked Remus up as carefully as he could, putting him over his shoulder. He carried both to the motorcycle, putting them into the sidecar with Harry. Harry whined, touching the slack werewolf's face. "Moony..."
"Yuki!" Sirius shouted. "We've got to get going!"
Yuki ran to the motorcycle. She placed the screaming Noriko into the sidecar. Harry and JJ both grabbed her tightly, trying to shield their little sister with their bodies.
Sirius got onto the back of the bike. "Come on Yuki! No time to be afraid of flying!"
Yuki was moving away from the sidecar when she was tackled by one of the Death Eaters. "Get them!" The Death Eater shouted.
Sirius twisted back, pulling out his wand to assist Yuki, but then he saw it. The fire in her eyes, the gleam of metal.
"Those. Are. My. KIDS!" There was a sickeningly wet noise and Sirius could see the blade coming out of the Death Eater's back. Yuki pushed the body off of her and got onto the back of the bike, crimson rivulets dripping down her fingers even as she sheathed her sword and wrapped her arms around Sirius.
Not able to focus on what just happened, Sirius cast the spell on the bike and it roared to life.
"Keep your heads down!" Sirius barked at the kids. He turned back to Yuki. "I need to concentrate on driving. Keep us covered if they come after us on brooms."
The motorcycle tore through the grass before lifting off the ground, soaring into the night sky. The Death Eaters continued to throw curses, trying to catch the family before they were too high in the air. But it was pointless. They had escaped.
Sirius gripped tightly to the handlebar, his knuckles turning white. There was only one place they could go after a battle like this. Only one possible place they would be safe.
He looked to the still-crying children in the sidecar and then the bloodied hand wrapped around his waist.
He had wanted all of this to be over. But perhaps it never would be.