Part Thirty-One

The night was peaceful as the five of them walked through the Forest. Although it wasn't a full moon, all of them could make their way pretty well. Though Padfoot, couldn't see very well, all he had to do was follow Wings who stood out.

What do you think everyone will say when they see we are alive? askedFreedom.

I don't know. They will probably be mad because we put them through this, but at least all my friends except Peter know the truth. said Prongs.

Do you think we should have told Peter? asked Padfoot.

How? We wouldn't be able to contact him without people getting suspicious and besides you know he has a big mouth. said Harmony.

guess.

know my parents aren't worried about me, said Freedom. I told them where I was going before I left home. Besides, they don't know about the three of you. They don't get the Daily Prophet when I'm not there.

Yeah, but what if Dumbledore gets hold of them? asked Prongs.

Why would he? I mean he thinks I am safe at home.

After that they just walked in silence. They were all thinking about the prophecy they had just read about. What did it mean? Who was the servant of Lord Voldemort? How had that servant been chained for twelve years?

Then, Padfoot, who had taken the lead, pricked up his ears. Strange voices were heard in the clearing ahead. He knew that they had no right to be there and just to be on the safe side, decided that they should investigate.

Guys, I think we have trouble in the clearing ahead. I think that Moony should climb a tree so that he's out of sight while we investigate.

They all agreed and as soon as Moony was safely and quietly perched in a branch of a tree. Then the other four spread out to surround the clearing. They could now hear what the voices were saying.

"I can't believe we have to stay out here until we catch that blasted pegasus," grumbled one.

A silky voice answered, "You dare to question the Dark Lord's words?"

"No!" said the other man quickly, "but it's cold out here and I can remember all the dangerous beasts that inhabit this forest."

"Oh, are you scared, fool? I can't believe that you were ever made a Death Eater," the silky voice taunted.

"What are we waiting for, anyway? Who knows if the pegasus is even in this forest anymore."

"Shut up, you fool. Besides, I want to talk about what happened nearly a week ago."

Prongs stiffened.

"You mean at the Potter house? That was the sweetest job I have ever had, let me tell you. Too bad those three kids got away. I'll tell you how much fun we had with Mrs. Potter after they were gone, though."

(AN: Did I say that those two thuds they heard at the Potter house meant that Mr. and Mrs. Potter were dead?)

There was a snarl of rage and the two Death Eaters looked up to see a huge black dog leap from the shadows and tackle the silky-voiced D.E. The man had no time to pull out his wand and the teeth and claws of the beast ripped and tore until he was nothing but a blithering idiot. (AN: Well, he was already a blithering idiot, but you get the picture) As a final insult to the man, before he let him go (Padfoot, couldn't kill him, sorry) he snapped the man's wand in half with his jaws.

The other man didn't fare half so well. He had turned to help his fellow D.E. when he felt sharp horns stab him in the back and with a mighty toss of his head, Prongs flung him headlong into a tree. He was about to spear the man to the tree when Freedom stepped in between.

Prongs, calm down. I know how you feel, but you can't kill him. Your parents wouldn't want you to become a killer for them, would they?

Prongs didn't say anything, just turned and walked away, back into the surrounding forest.

Freedom didn't know what to do. She wanted to go after Prongs, but knew she couldn't leave Padfoot the way that he was. Padfoot had backed off from the Death Eater, but snarls and growls were still coming from his throat and every hair stood on end. There was a fierce red glow coming from his eyes.

Harmony looked at her and Freedom understood. Harmony would take care of Padfoot, Freedom's duty was to Prongs. She walked off taking the same path that Prongs had taken. She found James sitting in a clearing, sobbing. She turned back into Lily with a pop.

"James."

James looked up. He looked like nothing more than a lost little boy. "Why, Lily? Why did they have to do something like that? I mean just knowing my parents were murdered was enough, but now knowing my mum was..." he broke off unable to finish.

"James, it wasn't your fault. They wouldn't want you to be like this. Come on, we should get back to the Shrieking Shack. It's almost morning and we have less than twelve hours to finish the book before everyone arrives at Hogwarts. Maybe we can find out who betrayed us."

James nodded reluctantly. He wasn't really willing to let this go, but he buried the feelings deep down inside. The two of them collected Remus and then changing back into their animagus forms, went back to the Shrieking Shack.

Padfoot knew that he was going berserk, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. The fact that he had almost killed someone, no matter who that person was, didn't sit well with him. He tried to calm himself down.

Come, Padfoot, let's go back to the Shrieking Shack. We need to finish the story. Harmony was nudging him away from the clearing and with greatreluctance, Padfoot went.

The silvery-toned Death Eater looked up. If he didn't feel the affects from the attack, he might have believed it was a dream. But there were the bite marks and claw marks made by the monstrous beast all over him. One was particularly close to his throat.

He looked across the clearing at the other Death Eater. He was lying very still and he couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. Not that he really cared, after all he had things to get done and he didn't have much time before he

went to Hogwarts. He looked down at his snapped wand and then went to the fallen man and picked up his wand and disappeared.