Lady Lightning: There's always a catch with me. What shall happen indeed?
Kitala: Yes they do! They rock!
Esperanza: Well hopefully you read chapter 33 and realized they're ok. And Sirius would make a good Lockhart wouldn't he?
Luna Rose and Phoenix Child: I was wondering where you two went. They saved the Slytherin first because it's my story and I'm a Slytherin :p And I agree with PC…Gryffindors…
Fanfiction fanatic: Thanks for the huggles! I love being loved.
Mikee: Wow, on bended knee even. Well, uh…hehe…sorry about that…and cliffies are my specialty.
Lei Dumbledore: Here's some more.
Starr: Well, I won't kill him…that's about all I can promise.
Moon Kitty: It's ok to babble…I do it constantly.
Lokia: Ok, ok…fine.
Snapefan51: Oh, her reaction has just begun. I had to throw the grounding part. It was just too good to pass up.
Asprcreme: If he's reading…lol…that's great. He may be a teensy bit hurt, but nothing MP can't heal!
Snape coolgirl: Well, the "old wounds" part is the whole childhood prank thing. He doesn't trust Remus. But I think you'll be appeased in this one.
Lee Lee Potter: Oh yeah…Ron gets something to drink *snickers conspiratorially* I didn't pick up on it either until they told me in reviews. And I wrote the thing! So don't feel too bad.
Sparrow: Just Parseltongue…almost the same as in CoS.
Pineapplehead: Well, it seems you've had a stroke of good luck. You are 425! I'll include your item.
Kateri: I know…strange. Must be Lily rubbing off on him. Yes, Ron's rescue is in this chapter.
Takari4ever7: Well, since Hermione means the most to him, she'll probably be last. But there will be some fluff when he does rescue her.
Jen~: I try to update often to keep you people happy. Sometimes it doesn't happen.
Samson: Thanks and welcome to the story!
Saavik: You'll see
Little Suzi: *birthday song plays* Yeah, Hagrid's off rounding up the giants. The day it came out? Wow…it took me a week.
Tantz: I don't like to be lynched. I've been threatened with a lot of things in my time. I think he would handle it well…maybe a little shocked…
Alecatq: I continued for ya!
…: Very interesting name there. You're right…it is. It must have been my unconscious telling me to make it Lupin. Thanks!
Charlie YuY: I'm sorry you were sick. But you're better now right? I can't find that movie anywhere. It's ticking me off.
Moonlight: That's right…I completely forgot about GoF. I'm re-reading it now, but I'm just past the Opening Feast now.
Wormtail's worst enemy: Nice name. I do enjoy dangling people off cliffs. It's so much fun to leave you people with actual cliffhangers. This thing has threatened to be longer than my other…it almost is…and as for the wolves…he did notice, but his senses aren't that heightened. But he does smell them in this one.
Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog: Well, that's explained here as well. I don't even know if there are canyons in Belgium…but as this is fiction, and mine to boot, there are. Cheers!
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~…Harry…~ The one word froze the boy to the ground, sending Lupin crashing into him.
"Harry, what's wrong?" In answer, he bolted into the forest, not caring how much Snape would yell at him. Lupin followed not knowing what else to do. Then he smelled it…wolves.
"Harry! No wait! It's not safe!" Then another scent, feline, a large cat, probably a mountain lion. Lupin surged forward and grabbed Harry's arm. "I said stop!"
"No!" Harry tried to wrench his arm free, but Lupin was too strong. "He's hurt!"
"How do you know?" Lupin's tone was forceful, leaving no room for lying. Harry tugged the stone from under his shirt and showed the werewolf. Lupin's face melted from anger to understanding and nodded. They ran deeper, Harry leading the way, and not for the first time, Lupin wished he were an animagus instead of a werewolf.
"Harry, I'm not picking up Snape's scent." The boy didn't answer, though Lupin knew he'd heard him. "Harry?" They came to a clearing and stopped, staring at the scene before them. Five wolves lay dead on the ground, one mauled beyond recognition. Five others were circled around a struggling panther, but still no sign of the potions master. Lupin laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, don't disturb them. Wolves circle their prey, then, when it goes down, they close in. We're still upwind, so we can go around without—" But Harry had other plans. In one motion, he drew his wand, took a few steps forward, and banished the nearest one into a tree. The others, seeing more meat for their dinner, forgot the panther and turned to the boy.
~What are you doing!~
~I'm not going to just let you die~ The biggest and nearest wolf leapt, aiming for Harry, but Lupin jumped and intercepted it, wand out. His strength allowed him to grapple it long enough to cast a freezing charm, preserving the creature in a block of ice, but not before the wolf ripped flesh from the werewolf's shoulder. Meanwhile, the panther had attacked one from behind, slicing up its hindquarters, sending it yelping into the forest. The other two, seeing they were outnumbered, slunk back into the solace of the trees.
Lupin stood protectively in front of Harry, waiting for the panther to make its move. It did, and soon, Snape stood before them, ragged and beaten. Harry rushed forward as Lupin stood shocked.
"Moony, help me!" Harry was now supporting most of the potion master's weight, and Lupin moved forward to steady the man.
"Severus? How? When?" They set the man against a tree and Harry pulled the water flask from his bag. After Snape had drunken enough to replenish him, Harry began dressing his wounds with strips of his cotton cloak.
"Lupin, I don't have time to answer your questions at the moment. Harry, where did you learn to dress wounds?" Without looking up, Harry mumbled something unintelligible. "Speak up, boy."
"The Dursleys," he answered louder. Snape's face set from mild pain to anger in a matter of seconds. Even Lupin, who had seen Severus mad on many occasions, had never seen the fire that was burning behind the man's eyes now.
"Professor, did you bring potions with you?" Snape looked up into Harry's eyes blankly, as if remembering something so stupid a first year would have known. He reached into Harry's bag and pulled out his cloak, and reached into some hidden pocket. He pulled out two, which Harry recognized as a Healing Draught and a Pepper-Up Potion. Snape downed both without so much as a grimace and sighed. Nodding to both wizards, he began to stand, and Lupin steadied him with an arm while Harry checked the bandages to make sure they would stay.
"Severus, can you walk?"
"I believe so, how far are we from the valley?"
"About four and half miles. Can you make it?" Harry shouldered the bag and walked along side the man, ready to steady him. Lupin was doing the same on the other side, and Snape growled.
"I am not some child learning to walk! I am capable of taking care of myself!" He strode forward and out of the woods, leaving the other two behind. Harry looked at Lupin, who shrugged.
"I guess we continue, but keep an eye on him." Harry nodded and looked out into the canyon. An hour later, after stopping three times to check the bandages, they came to a large rock face. It appeared as if the canyon ended, and Lupin looked up.
"What now?" Harry looked dismayed, but Snape walked out to the canyon.
"Where is the valley from here?"
"Over the rock face." Snape turned back to the two Gryffindors.
"There is your answer. We go up." He pulled his wand and pointed it at the three of them. "Plurum Leviosa." Harry felt himself rise off the ground and looked down. He was, indeed, rising up, and once they reached the top of the rock face, Snape moved his wand, sending them sideways. Harry looked at the man's face, noticing it beaded with sweat from concentration. Once they had cleared the rock wall, they began to descend. Lupin held his wand at the ready, ready to catch them should Severus lose his concentration. He didn't, and they landed softly on the other side. Snape stumbled for a moment, but Harry caught his arm and steadied him. With only a look of thanks, Snape turned to look out onto the valley that spread before them.
Unlike the canyon on the other side of the rocks, the valley was luscious and green, filled with flowers and trees. Harry could make out animals grazing and drinking by the pond in the middle.
"Severus, how can this be? This area doesn't get enough water to support this kind of fertility." Snape turned to Lupin.
"Have you ever heard of magic, Lupin? This entire canyon is full of it: the forest along the edge, the odd creatures in the canyon, the echo. When Mylion charmed the canyon, he filled this entire area with magic." Harry moved to the edge of the hill they were on.
"Where is Ron?" He waited, but only heard his real echo faintly. "I guess we look now." His shout had scared many of the animals to the far edge of the valley, so the trio searched in peace as they walked down the hill.
"I see him!" Harry bolted off toward the lake at the flash of the red hair, and the two injured wizards struggled to keep up with him. Harry approached the Gryffindor smiling. "Ron! Ron I'm here!" The boy looked up and smiled blissfully.
"Hello Harry, how are you? It's such a lovely day isn't it?" Harry stopped and stared…something was wrong.
"Ron? We have to get back to Hogwarts, come on." Harry grabbed the boy's arm, but Ron slipped out.
"I don't think I want to go back. It's so beautiful here, why would you ever want to leave?" Snape came up behind Harry with Lupin, and Harry turned around.
"We have a small problem."
"Which is?"
"Whoever kidnapped them charmed him to never want to leave here." Snape looked around at all the animals that had returned. They were flocking and herding in from everywhere. The odd thing was, they were just standing by the lake; they weren't drinking the water, just standing there.
"The water." Harry looked up.
"What?" Lupin looked over quizzically as well.
"Mylion's magic must have permeated the water. His love for the canyon and his want to stay must have been transferred from the magic into the water. You see, water is one of the easiest things to charm, as its particles are thin and more spread out than other liquids. The magic must have been soaked into the water, and anything that drinks it becomes drawn to the lake." Harry looked back at Ron, who was smiling at a doe. Ron reached out a hand and petted the animal, stroking it lovingly.
"What can we do?" Lupin spoke up now.
"Well, we have to flush the lake water from his system. Severus, where's the flask?" Severus pulled it from his pocket and handed it to Lupin, who in turn held it out for Ron.
"No thank you, I am not thirsty. Besides, I have plenty of water here." He gestured out to the lake and smiled ecstatically. Harry groaned audibly.
"This is hopeless. We have to get him away from the lake first, and he obviously doesn't want to go."
"This is not the time for gentleness, Mr. Potter." Harry flinched and nodded, thinking.
"Wait! Moony, we can do that short burst thing just once to get back over the rock face. Then we'll be back in the canyon, and we can get him thirsty there!" Lupin handed the flask back to Snape and shrugged.
"I guess it's worth a shot. Severus, you take Harry. I'll get Happy here." Lupin linked his arm through Ron's merrily, to which Ron smiled stupidly.
"How are you today, Professor Lupin?"
"Just fine Ron," Lupin motioned for Harry and Severus to go, which they did. "Do you know how you got here?" Ron shook his head.
"No, I do not, but it doesn't really matter now that I'm here. Things are so wonderful and lovely!" Ron made a sweeping gesture with his arm, and Lupin chose that moment to apparate. They landed next to Snape and Harry, and Ron looked around confused.
"Now look what you've done, Ron. You've scared it all away." Ron broke down.
"I want to go back." He began to cry uncontrollably, and Harry clamped his hands over his ears.
"Merlin! Make it stop!" Lupin smiled and held out his hand.
"Severus, do you have that water you collected from the lake?" Ron stopped abruptly and smiled at Severus, who scowled at him. He handed the flask to Lupin, who handed it to an eager Ron. He tilted it back and chugged for a good five minutes before letting up.
"Must have been thirsty from all that crying," Harry mumbled. "I never took Ron for a cry-baby." Lupin turned to him.
"You have to remember, Harry, that the lake water was clouding his judgment. It made him act, er, unordinary."
"You can say that again." Ron handed the flask back to Lupin with a look of urgency on his face.
"Uh, Professor? Might I go into the forest?" Lupin nodded and lead the boy (who was almost doubled over) into the woods. Once they were out of sight, Harry burst out into laughter.
"I wonder if he'll remember anything?" he asked his father.
"I do not think so. The water, as Lupin said, was fogging his brain. Once the cloud is lifted, he'll probably go into a deep sleep. When he wakes up, he'll remember nothing." Harry looked disappointed.
"I was never going to let him live this down," he said half-heartedly. Moments later, Lupin came out carrying the boy with a look of disgust on his face. Harry laughed.
"What happened Lupin?" Snape asked curtly.
"Er, he uh, fell asleep. Mid-business," he added softly. Silence for a moment, then Harry doubled over in uncontrollable laughter. Even Snape chuckled at Lupin's misfortune. "Alright, enough, let's just get back so I can put Bliss here to bed."
"Bliss, huh? Sounds like a good nickname for him!" Harry said, still red-faced. Snape sobered up quickly and Harry latched onto him. The four apparated out and just outside the barriers. They walked quickly in silence to the castle and inside to the Hospital Wing. Harry retrieved the Headmaster and McGonagall as Snape and Lupin reported to the Hospital Wing.
When Harry walked in with the two elders of the school, Madam Pompfrey was tending to Snape's leg. Lupin sat on the next bed with a soft light surrounding his shoulder. Ron lay asleep across the aisle, and Harry moved to his side.
"Don't wake him, Mr. Potter," came Pompfrey's voice, "He needs his rest." Harry nodded and pulled up a chair between Lupin and Snape's beds. Dumbledore smiled at them.
"What happened, Severus?"
"We were being hunted by wolves. I shifted and went into the woods to dispatch them, but I underestimated their ability to fight as a pack."
"Of course," Harry put in, recognizing the discomfort, "If Professor Snape hadn't gone on his own, they would have attacked us and probably killed us." Snape leveled an inscrutable look at his son, but ignored the comment. Dumbledore smiled, but McGonagall looked anything but pleased.
"Poppy, how long until Mr. Weasley awakens?"
"I don't know, Headmaster. He's in a deep sleep, almost like he's ingested Draught of the Living Dead. He must wake up on his own."
"Very well, what about these three?"
"Mr. Potter is unharmed, for once. These two may go as soon as they have finished healing."
"Wonderful! Harry, I believe you have time to make it to your Defense Against the Dark Arts class." Harry smiled and bid everyone goodbye, ran up to Gryffindor Tower, grabbed his bag, and dashed to the classroom. He filed in and sat next to Blaise, who smiled at him.
"Welcome back, how's Ron?"
"Fine, but he's in a really deep sleep. He should wake up sometime, no one knows when."
"When do you think you'll get the next riddle?" he asked expectantly. Apparently Blaise had figured out, as had Harry, a sort of order to the riddles. The first, Blaise, was someone not as close to Harry. Then Ron, someone not as close to Blaise. But Ginny was close to both of them, and she was next. Harry would bet his entire fortune that whoever had kidnapped them was saving Hermione for last.
"Hopefully tomorrow, but I don't know. We figured that one out quicker than last time." Before Blaise could respond, Covial swept in grandly, and beamed at Harry. Harry smiled back and the class began. When it ended, Covial made a grand excuse for Harry to stay behind, and after all the students filed out, he leaned in.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Professor Snape was mauled by several wolves, and Moony was hit on the shoulder. They're both in the Hospital Wing—what is that?" he added hastily, pointing to a small rectangular object on Covial's desk.
"Oh, I was talking with the Muggle Studies professor. He's teaching his third years about computers. This is a ream." Harry laughed, as Covial pulled it completely into view. He patted the man on his shoulder and walked out, chuckling to himself.
Leave it to his godfather to be amused by paper.
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Hopefully that was long enough for you. I completely apologize for not posting for a while. I was in a major car accident Friday. I completely rolled by SUV, end over end, twice, on the highway. No worries though, I'm completely unharmed. No bruises, no bumps, no cuts, no scrapes, nothing.
Hopefully I can get the next chapter out this week. But look at it this way…no cliff hanger.