Disclaimer:  Anything you recognize belongs to the goddess, JKR.  There are four more chapters to go.

Chapter 14:  Anger and Despair

Remus felt terribly uncomfortable and, for the most part, cold.  He first became aware of the dreary bit of light shining through an equally dreary bit of window high up near the ceiling.  It cast a ray of rather nondescript grey light onto the damp walls of the prison that was now his home and he shivered slightly.

Tomorrow night…the night of the full moon.

He could feel it, of course.  Knew, beyond all doubt, that it was coming.  He had been taking the Wolfsbane Potion for so long he had forgotten how it felt to be so close to the time of transformation without it.  There was no dulling of his senses.  They were acute to the point of being practically unbearable.  He could see with a sharpness that was cutting.  Hear the various noises within the manor…a veritable cacophony of sound that was not audible to the ordinary human ear.

But all he could feel.  All he could taste.  All he could smell.

Hermione…lying in his arms.  Trusting him.  Loving him.

He was nothing more than a monster.

If only she had not found him so quickly when he had slashed his wrists.

Looking down at her sleeping face, he could see the slight lines that constant worrying over Harry and Ron and, yes, even himself, had created.  Hers was not a face of innocence.  She had seen far too much evil for that and it had touched her in many ways.  Caressing her hair softly, he could see several silver strands within the honey brown masses.  For a moment, he wondered if it bothered her.  It, in itself, did not bother him but he felt angry that her childhood had been so brutally taken away from her.

"Just as mine was," he thought to himself wistfully, touching her cheek softly, marveling at the soft texture.  Despite her surroundings, he could still detect a hint of vanilla and strawberries and, he almost chuckled, the dust from musty old textbooks.

A slight movement turned his attention back to her.

"Remus?" She murmured as her eyes fluttered open.  "Are you all right?"

Remus was once again reminded that here was a strong woman, not the young child he had taught so many years before.  She had grown in intelligence and strength.  Would it be enough to sustain her until…

"When did you get here?" She asked.

"Last night.  Hermione…he…The Dark Lord took my supply of Wolfsbane."  Remus turned his eyes away from hers, unable to bear the silent accusation he was sure would be there.

"I can't transform, you know," she said sadly.  Turning to her, he saw no accusation.  There was only profound sadness in her expression.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't change into my animagus form.  My wand…it's not particularly useful right now." Hermione pulled it out of her sleeve and showed it to him.  He could sense the magical energy being contained somehow.  Blocked.

"Dark magic," he muttered.

"It's not your fault, Remus.  I don't blame you," Hermione ventured, reaching up to move aside a lock of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes.

"Tomorrow night…"

"I know."  Remus felt her tremble and she buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around him tightly as she cried brokenly.

Fate was a cruel mistress and was not without a sense of irony.  He tried to comfort her, because only he was in a position to do so, but realized that tomorrow night would be a completely different matter.  Who would comfort him the following morning?

"I love you, Remus," she whispered, her voice heavy with tears.

The words cut him like a dull sword and he found himself unable to answer.  He simply held her close and tried to convey to her, without the words that refused to come out, that he felt the same.

A sharp creaking noise caused them both to sit up suddenly.  Wormtail entered, carrying a covered tray.  Remus could pick up the smell of bread and cheese and some mediocre quality wine.

"Good morning.  I trust you slept well," Wormtail's voice had the edge of hysterical madness as he set the tray down by a narrow opening on the floor and backed away quickly.

"It's a shame that you aren't in here with me, Wormtail," Remus growled, baring his teeth slightly.  "We have so much to talk about.  Why you betrayed Lily and James…why you never amounted to anything more than sniveling underling who relies on his master's coat tails for protection.  You were always a coward.  A traitorous coward."

Wormtail paled for a moment at the accusation but quickly laughed at Remus.

"Why not?  It's not as if it is a huge secret.  Why did I betray James and Lily?  Lily was mine.  Lily belonged to me.  James knew that I loved her and yet he went out and seduced her and got her pregnant with that brat Potter."  Wormtail's eyes were glazed as he ranted.

"Lily pitied you.  She felt that you were always picked on and asked us to be your friends.  She never loved you," Remus declared.

"She was mine.  The Dark Lord promised her to me.  She did not have to die!!" Wormtail screamed frenetically, tearing at his hair.  He looked like someone who was rapidly losing his grip on sanity and he began muttering to himself about poor Wormtail.

"What are you talking about?" Remus' voice had taken on a dangerous quality.

"Only James and the child were supposed to die.  Lily was to be spared for Wormtail.  A gift to reward Wormtail's loyalty."

"And she decided that staying with a husband she loved and saving a child she adored was worth more than her own life.  Poor Wormtail…you didn't get your little reward, did you?"

Hermione felt slightly sick during the conversation but stood up with Remus and looked at Wormtail with a critical eye.  This was not a man.  This was nothing remotely human.

"Wormtail waited a very long time for the Dark Lord to return…masqueraded as the red-headed boy's faithful pet for years.  Waiting all the time for news."

"You must be thrilled that your master has returned.  He has obviously rewarded you with a new arm," Hermione muttered, remembering how Harry had been shaking when he had told her the story of that night in fourth year.

"Wormtail has not always followed orders properly."  The thin man looked confused for a moment.  "Wormtail has been very lonely and wanted a companion.  Someone to take Lily's place.  Wormtail wanted the Mudblood."

Remus lunged at the bars of the prison, reaching his arms through in a futile attempt to reach Wormtail's throat.

"Remus, no.  Don't," Hermione begged as she tried to pull him back.  Wormtail laughed like a raving lunatic.

"Yes, Remus.  Wormtail wanted the Mudblood.  Wanted her in Wormtail's bed.  Pretty, she is.  A good mate for Wormtail.  But, she chose you," Wormtail spat on the ground in disgust.

"He is more of a man than you will ever be," Hermione said in a dead calm voice, holding Remus tightly.

"Will you think that tomorrow night?  Wormtail doesn't think so.  Maybe you do love him, Mudblood.  And maybe he loves you too.  Won't help you.  You'll still be dead.  Is being killed by someone you love better than living with someone you despise?"

"Yes."

Wormtail approached the cell, careful to stay out of Remus' reach.  "Are you sure, Mudblood?  Wormtail could let you out.  The Dark Lord owes Wormtail a pretty reward…and you are very pretty.  Almost like Lily."  Wormtail licked his lips as he let his eyes wander over Hermione's form.

Remus snarled but Hermione held him back.   She stepped towards Wormtail.

"You would let me out?"

Wormtail was almost panting.  "Yes…Wormtail would let you out…take you to my little room.  Hide you away from the Dark Lord.  Wormtail is very good at hiding."

"You would take me to your room?  And hide me?" She stepped closer, holding the bars and pressing her body against them.

"Yes.  Hide you forever.  Wormtail's little Mudblood.  So pretty."  Wormtail's hand reached towards her.

"And what would stop me from slitting your pathetic, scrawny neck?" She yelled as she tried to grab Wormtail who only just managed to avoid being trapped.  He turned to her in shock and anger.

"I would much rather die than be touched by you," She screamed as she shook the bars in frustration.  Remus quickly embraced her and glared at the other man, disgusted by the scent of arousal pervading his nostrils.

"Mudblood will die and Wormtail will enjoy the show.  Enjoy your breakfast…Wormtail has other matters to attend to."  And, with that, Wormtail left the room.

"I hate him," Hermione muttered under her breath as Remus held her close.

"I know."

"Remus?"

"Yes?"

"Don't let me go."

"I won't."

****************The next morning…outside…within sight of the manor************

"We should have told Ron and Harry sooner," Sirius grunted as he peered through the bushes.  It was cold and there was a frigid rain that blew into their faces and seemed to steal the warmth from their bodies. 

"Albus did not think it was wise.  He felt that they would do something…imprudent," Severus whispered as he watched the front of the manor with cautious eyes. 

"Imprudent my…"

"Sirius, please.  If you keep on like this, someone will discover us," Margot practically hissed at him.  Sirius looked rather sheepish at the admonition.

"I haven't seen anyone come in or out of the building yet," Severus sighed.  "This is most unusual.  We cannot risk a full assault because we could be severely outnumbered and there is a high likelihood of harm coming to Hermione and Remus…and that is not acceptable.  He should never have gone after her.  I knew it was a trap.  The Dark Lord would not release Hermione simply because Remus turned himself in.  I fear he has a darker purpose in mind."

Sirius paled visibly.  "But Remus took a supply of Wolfsbane Potion.  You found it missing from your laboratory.  He should be fine."

"Unless the Dark Lord searches him for it.  He knows that Remus uses it…it is a simple matter to remove it from him.  Even if Remus misses one dose…the results would be tragic."

"But the Dark Lord has no use for Hermione," Margot whispered.  "She is a muggleborn and although her powers are extraordinary, we come back to the point that he does not need her."

"That is my point exactly." Severus said pointedly.  The implied meaning was not lost on the other two and the resultant silence was a testament to that.

"Wait.  We are all forgetting something.  Hermione is an animagus.  She can transform so that Remus will not hurt her," Sirius commented.

"It is impossible for an animagus to transform without a wand.  I do not think the Dark Lord would be foolish enough to allow her to keep her wand," Severus replied evenly.  Sirius sat down heavily on the cold ground, shaking his head in dismay.

"Remus has never taken a human life, Severus," he murmured brokenly.  "And he loves Hermione.  I acted like an idiot when I found out…thought she should have gone with Harry or Ron.  Thought he was too old for her.  I guess…I just didn't realize how deep their feelings for each other were."

"I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that he does not hurt her," Severus placed a hand on Sirius' shoulder.  "I promise you that, Black."

Sirius nodded.

"It's unfortunate that Wormtail has not yet made an appearance.  I would have very much liked to speak with him," Sirius smirked without humour.

"Speak with him or wring his neck?" Margot asked archly.  "I would make sure he was dead before you got to him.  He has much to answer for."

Sirius looked at her curiously but her gaze remained on the front door of the manor.  Some answers, it appeared, would have to wait.

"How many wards do you think are on the place?" Sirius asked Severus, who was fingering his wand anxiously.

"Far too many to even think about what you are contemplating," Severus answered shortly.

"And what exactly was I contemplating?"

"You were thinking that we should walk in with you as a prisoner."

Sirius looked at the Potions Master in shock.  "Severus, I always suspected you could read minds but this baffles me.  How did you know?"

"Because you are so blatantly obvious and it is such a Gryffindor thing to do…to offer oneself as a potential victim in order to save the others.  It will not work.  Margot and I will not be believed.  We are traitors…worthy of only one thing.  The Killing Curse."

Margot turned to Severus gravely.  "L'amore non muore mai, caro."

A curt nod was all the response Severus gave…and it spoke volumes.

"I don't mean to be a wet blanket but I don't speak Italian…please pity your poor linguistically challenged colleague," Sirius commented, changing into his animagus form.

"A wet dog is just as bad as a wet blanket," Severus grumbled as he pushed the huge animal away.  "And I seem to recall that you never applied yourself to Ancient Runes all that much when you were a student at Hogwarts."

"Always such a character, Sirius," Margot smiled.

A slight noise silenced all three of them and turned their attention to the manor.  There, huddled in a large woolen cloak, was a tall figure!  It was difficult to say whether it was male or female but it seemed to be quite content, standing out in the rain.  Was it waiting for someone…or standing guard?

"Who is that?" Margot asked.

"I can't tell," Severus was straining his eyes but to no avail.  "Black…make yourself useful."

With a 'humph', Sirius sniffed the air cautiously, carefully and quietly moving to the edge of the bushes that concealed them all.  Again, he raised his nose and sniffed.  Moving back quickly, the dog suddenly became Sirius Black again.

"It's Lucius Malfoy!" Sirius whispered, his eyes wide with surprise.  "The slimy git."

"What would he be doing here?" Margot asked, a look of disgust on her face.  "This does not bode well, Severus."

"I don't know," Severus smiled a very cruel smile.  "If he is here, chances are that the other Death Eaters have not been summoned.  It could be advantageous to our plan but I am not certain.  However, I fully intend to find out."

"What do you plan to do?" Sirius asked as Severus produced a tiny vial of a clear, colourless liquid and looked at it appraisingly.

"Fate has offered us Lucius Malfoy and I fully intend to use him as a means of getting us inside."

"I am assuming that this will involve some…persuasion on our part," Margot smiled, pulling out her wand.

Sirius' eyes lit up with understanding.  "Yes," he said, pulling out his wand as well. "Let's persuade him."

"Wait…we must be discreet.  Margot…an Imperius Curse, if you will," Severus asked quietly.  Margot nodded.

"But that is forbidden.  Are you sure that this is wise?" Sirius asked.

"In this case, Black, it is entirely justified.  Besides, it is not as if we are going to hurt him all that much…we just need him to come and talk with us," Margot replied.

"And I will make certain he tells us anything we wish to know," Severus held up the vial.

"Is that what I think it is?" Sirius asked.

"If you were thinking of that potent yet delectable distillate from a bottle of Ogdens, commonly known as "screech", then you would be mistaken. However, if you were thinking of Veritaserum then, yes, you are correct.  This is the most potent version I have developed to date…requiring just a taste to render a person completely and totally open and honest.  Just one drop and Lucius will answer any question we put to him.  We need to know what the Dark Lord's plans are, if there are any other Death Eaters inside the manor and where Hermione and Remus are being kept.  It's a big place.  We can't waste time looking through all the rooms," Severus explained.

"And he would be able to tell us about the wards protecting the manor," Sirius whispered excitedly.

"That he would," Severus drawled. 

"And then what?"

"And then Lucius will take us all in as prisoners and ensure we are placed in the exact same place as Remus and Hermione."

"Will he be holding our wands?" Margot suddenly asked, a look of apprehension on her face.

Severus thought about it for a moment and then he tore three small branches off of the bush in front of them and quickly transfigured them into exact replicas of their wands.

"Lucius will carry these in as proof that we are unarmed and, therefore, harmless.  We will not be watched as closely if we have no means of summoning our magic.  Or, if it is as I suspect, the Dark Lord will spell these false wands so that they will not work and return them to us…but he will not suspect that they are not the genuine articles.  He is not terribly good at subterfuge."

"Smoke and mirrors," Sirius smiled appreciatively at the deception.  "I have to say, Snape, I am impressed.  Being a Slytherin isn't all bad."

"Neither is being a Gryffindor…although I can hardly believe I just said that."

"What happens when we get taken to where Remus and Hermione are being held?"

"We ensure that Lucius convinces all parties concerned that we are to be left alone.  The Dark Lord will certainly agree to that.  He would simply relish the idea of our apparent inability to help our friends.  And we would almost certainly want us present when Remus transforms."

"And then?"

"I haven't gotten to that part of the plan yet."

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"I'm working on it," Severus snapped impatiently.

Margot smiled indulgently at both wizards.  She then turned around, pointed her wand at the unsuspecting Lucius and whispered "Imperio."