Mandidoll: I hadn't really thought about the LITERAL cliffhanger…sorry guys!
Kateri: *bows* I am a true Slytherin, thank you. He's picked up, but he's still new to the whole "father" thing.
Chaser: LOL…sorry, I didn't really realize it was an actual cliffhanger.
Snape coolgirl: Thanks, and loved the Burns thing.
Xikum: Actually, the fourth, but hey, who's counting. I'll probably hear a lot more of it. Oh, McGonagall has a lot more to say (particularly to Severus), but it wasn't exactly an opportune time.
Fanfiction fanatic: *huggles* I do love you all.
Lokia: Ah, well, that happens sometimes. You can't always have action, there are in between moments. Thank you for the compliment, I do try to keep people IC. I just think "how would they react" and it happens. Of course, characters change with scenarios. I'm glad it's floating now, wouldn't want anyone to drown.
Sparrow: His grades are somewhat addressed in this chapter. Thanks for reading!
Black Rose: *huggles* That was a good line, it just came to me. So funny. LOL, a levitation spell, huh? Very clever. I'm guessing you're either a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw.
Charma1219: It's easy, I just hit save, then I uploaded. Not hard. *ducks flying objects* Hehe…sorry. Updating ASAP as ordered!
Asprcreme: I will indeed! Actually, this chapter is dedicated to him!
This chapter is dedicated to Alan Rickman, who is celebrating 57 wonderful years on this planet tomorrow. Let us all join to wish the Rickster a safe, happy, and fun-filled birthday. We love you Alan!
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Lupin's wolf reflexes snapped on in an instant, and he shot his hand out, grabbing Severus' arm. Harry dangled from his father's hand, who was dangling from Lupin's, noticing the first panicked expression he'd ever seen on his father's face. In fact, if he hadn't been hanging by an arm 300 feet in the air, he'd have found it amusing.
"Hang on Harry!" Harry had to laugh.
"No problem there!" He felt himself being pulled up, and Harry thanked Merlin for Lupin's superhuman strength afforded him by being a werewolf. Once he was safely on the ground, he breathed deeply, willing his heart to slow down, and looked at his father. His face was whiter than usual, and he, too, was breathing deeply.
"Are you alright, Professor?" Snape looked up.
"Yes, and yourself?" Harry did a once-over and nodded. "Very well," Snape stood and offered his hand, pulling Harry to his feet. Harry flashed Lupin a thankful grin and smiled.
"Thanks, Prof—uh, Moony," he corrected at the pointed stare. Which way now?" Lupin shrugged. Snape looked around, trying to sense any clues from the vastness before them.
"Well, why don't we ask the canyon?" Lupin offered, smiling. Harry nodded and stepped closer to the ledge.
"Where is Ron?" he yelled at the top of his lungs. They waited a few moments for the response.
"In the valley."
"Where's the valley?" Harry shot an exasperated look at the two men.
"Thirty miles to the west." All three turned to the west and Harry shrugged.
"Well, we might as well try it; it's our only clue." They began their hike through the canyon in silence, thinking about possible dangers. Remus knew of some dark creatures that lurked in the forest nearby, and began reviewing defense spells against them. Severus kept all his senses alert for anything amiss or any sort of clue to Mr. Weasley's whereabouts. Harry, being from the Muggle side of life, was looking out for mountain lions and the like.
Harry, feeling very thirsty and hot, despite it being in the low 50's, smacked himself on the forehead. "Did anyone think to bring water?" he asked incredulously, not believing he hadn't thought of it. Snape merely smirked and pulled out a canteen.
"Is that it, Severus?" Remus asked, but Snape shot him a glare that clearly said "idiot."
"It is a bottomless canteen that has more than enough water for the three of us for several days, though I'd hoped to be done by then." Apparently the heat caused by the exercise was causing the potions master to become irritable. He was, after all, still dressed in his usual attire.
"Professor, perhaps you should take off that cloak. I have a bag here, and you'd be a lot more comfortable." Harry stopped and took his own advice, removing his thick red cloak and folding it neatly into the bag. Snape grunted noncommittally and unfastened his as well. Remus smiled the entire time, but said nothing for the looks he received. Harry carefully folded the massive black cloak and placed it atop his own, then closed the bag and shouldered it.
The trek continued for hours until finally Harry's feet gave out. He slumped on a rock and began unlacing his shoes.
"What are you doing?"
"I can't walk anymore, Moony. My feet have blisters and my back is killing me." Remus looked at Severus, who merely raised an eyebrow, then sighed.
"Very well, I suppose a small rest won't hurt." Both men sat down as well and began pulling out water and food. They ate a small snack, flushed it down with about a gallon of water each, and proceeded to pack up. Suddenly, Remus froze, looking at something on the ground. Harry finished lacing his shoes and stood, only to be silenced by his father.
"Severus, there is a rather large snake over here, and it looks poisonous." Snape craned his neck. It was a diamondback, judging from the size and coloration.
"It is indeed." Before either could speak, Harry moved forward, hissing at the serpent. Immediately, the snake switched targets, and Harry gestured behind his back for the two to back away. They backed a few feet, but not far enough to not be able to do something should the snake strike. Slowly, Snape drew his wand as Harry continued hissing. He muttered a spell under his breath at Harry, and a soft blue light radiated around him. Harry himself took no notice as the snake slithered closer, hissing back at him.
Without warning, the snake struck, plunging its fangs into Harry's forearm. He let out a surprised cry and stumbled backwards as the snake prepared to strike again. But Snape was ready this time and banished it over the cliff's edge. Lupin rushed forward to help Harry sit down, pressing his hands over the wound.
"Merlin, Severus, what do we do now? I don't have any antidote, nor do you." Snape knelt down as well and pulled the cloth off the wound. With a wave of his wand and a few words, the flesh was unmarred.
"I protected him from the venom with a simple spell. Of course, it only works once, then it has to be recast. How do you feel?" Harry looked up, astonished, at the man.
"Thanks," he said, both for the spell, and for helping him to his feet. He brushed his slacks off, and shouldered the bag. "I'm ready now." Lupin merely shook his head.
"Never in all my years would I have ever thought I'd see that." They began walking again, but Lupin still talked. "I mean, I knew you were a Parselmouth, Harry, but I never thought I'd actually see it first-hand. That's amazing."
"Yeah, well, see how amazing it is when everyone thinks you're the heir of Slytherin," Harry snapped back. "Sorry, Moony." Lupin smiled and placed a hand on the teen's shoulder.
"Don't worry about it. How much farther Severus?"
"At least five more miles. Can you make it Harry?" Harry looked up.
"I think so. But that's only about an hour right? Why can't we just apparate?"
"Because I don't want a repeat of the cliff incident. None of us knows the terrain, and we could all appear three hundred feet in the air next time." Harry nodded, shuddering at the thought of dangling by a hand.
"Severus, we could do short bursts, but it would exhaust one of us." Harry looked confused.
"Short bursts?"
"Yes, see that flat area ahead? How far do you think that is?"
"Uh, about half a mile?"
"Close enough. Well, we could apparate there, find another point, apparate there, and so on until we reach our destination. The only drawback is it would take one of us completely exhausting ourselves."
"I'll walk, thanks," he responded warily. Snape pursed his lips, and decided to delve into a more pertinent subject.
"How are your studies coming along, Harry?" Harry's head snapped over to Snape at the fatherly tone, and he smirked.
"Fine, though I'm still having some difficulties in Divination, partly because I haven't predicted my death in a couple of weeks. Charms is moving along nicely, as well as Transfiguration. With Hermione's help," he swallowed the lump that was forming, "I could make top marks this year."
"And DADA?"
Lupin smiled and raised his hands in the air, "He's doing wonderfully, Severus. But that's to be expected from one learning under the great Jaren Covial!" The idiotic grin was back, but it looked slightly less idiotic on Lupin's face. Harry snorted while Snape scowled.
"You know, it is annoying enough to have to listen to your incessant self-importance and narcissism over dinner, I do not wish to hear it here." Lupin dropped his arms and turned to Harry.
"I think it's time for someone's nap," he whispered. Harry snickered, and as his father whipped around, he adopted an innocent look.
"You are both incorrigible," he snapped around and gazed fixedly at their destination. Lupin shrugged.
"Then I guess you shouldn't "incorrige" us." Even Harry had to roll his eyes at the horrible pun, but he laughed anyway. Snape's scowl inset deeper, but he remained silent. Suddenly he stopped, and the look on his face told the other two not to make a sound.
~Blast it all, Lupin doesn't know I'm an animagus!~
~You let Blaise know~
~He's of my house, and I know he won't tell. But there are some wounds that never heal~ Harry knew exactly of what his father was speaking.
~What's wrong?~
~There's something hunting us, I can sense it. I don't know what it is, though I think Lupin just noticed as well~ True to his father's word, he saw Lupin visibly stiffen.
"There's something else here," he whispered.
"I'm bloody well aware of that Lupin, now be quiet!" Lupin promptly snapped his jaw over any retort. In all his years of being the object of the man's scorn, he had never heard that tone.
~I can sense nothing in human form!~
~I'll distract him, then you can shift~
~How exactly will you do that?~ As if in answer, Harry stumbled, falling dangerously close to the ledge. Werewolf senses alert, Lupin snatched out again, grabbing Harry's sweater. Snape shifted quickly and bounded off, careful not to alert the werewolf. Lupin turned around to find no trace of Snape and pulled Harry back.
"You and cliffs don't mix," he stated. Harry chuckled guiltily, and looked around.
"Where's Professor Snape?" he asked worriedly.
~If you ever do that again, you'll be grounded until you graduate~ Harry started at the voice in his head, but had to chuckle. Lupin rounded.
"Snape is missing and you're laughing?" he asked incredulously.
"Sorry, I was just thinking just how like him that is. You know, to appear and disappear without so much as a sound. It's kind of scary sometimes." Lupin nodded.
"It's times like these that make me wish I were an animagus instead of a werewolf. At least animagi can change at will."
~There is a pack of timber wolves in the forest. Ten, it looks like. I'll distract them as much as possible, you two get as far from here as you can. If you leave their territory, perhaps they'll stop hunting you~
~But what about you?~ When he received no answer, and began to get panicked, but remained calm on the outside.
"We have to get moving."
"Why?" Lupin asked warily.
"Just trust me, okay. We have to move away from this area of the forest." Harry began to walk at a brisk pace, and Lupin had no choice but to keep up. With Severus gone, he was in charge of looking after the boy.