Notes: Um.....ooga booga? O.o Oh! In case of confusion. There are the Alps
in Italy and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. Sirius and Draco are in NZ.
The time frame is different too so when its morning in England, its night
in NZ.
Chapter 3
Harry saddled the haversack for the seventh time, the large satchel kept sliding off of his shoulder. The snow was to his knees and every step he seemed to sink further into the cold mush. His robes were drenched from thigh down, clinging to him soddenly. The sky was an angry grey of clouds, signaling what Harry dreaded most; a blizzard. He glanced at his trekking partner. Remus had not once broke through the layers of snow, his nimble footing keeping him atop the mounds. It reminded Harry of Legolas from the Lord of the Rings books. The werewolf appeared to be taking the entire ordeal quite contently.
They had been hiking for a few hours now. The Boy Who Lived desperately wanted to rest, his calve muscles were aching from the strain. Quidditch couldn't even begin to prepare him for this. Harry wondered how Draco was doing and if he and Sirius were behaving. He had not been told where the duo was hiding but he reason to suspect it would some place that niether could escape from if they wanted to.
"We're making excellent time," Remus commented, snapping Harry from his musings. The older wizard kicked at branch from a tree, sending it to the side of the path. Remus cocked his head to the side and stared upwards. "Unfortunately, the weather may not permit us to keep this pace." His nose twitched. "And its going to be soon."
Harry was always amazed that Remus could smell the scent of percipitation and acurately predicted when the moisture would begin. "Do you know how soon? I really don't want to be caught in it." He indicated his wet clothes.
"An hour. There's a cave that Sirius used to hide in when he was on the run. It shouldn't be too far." Remus scanned the surroundings. "Down that hill," he pointed at a distant lump, "There's a concave in the foundation at the base. We'll stay there until the storm passes."
~ ~ ~
Sirius bolted upright on his place on the floor. He held his breath and remained perfectly still. Sobs. He rose to his feet, tip-toeing across the floor to gaze at Draco. The boy was tossing and turning in his sleep, crying mercilessly. The Animagus gently eased onto the bed. He touched Draco's cheeks, wiping the saline trails. So, the nonchalant attitude had just been a front. Sirius had not been given details on Draco's mishap; just what Albus and Harry deemed he should know. Apparently, it was much worse than Sirius had figured.
At the tender gesture, Draco calmed, leaning into the hand on his face. Silver orbs shuttered open, unfocused and misty. He immediately scurried from Sirius's hold and curled into a ball with the blankets nearly shrouding him from view. Sirius could tell from the movement of the covers that he was trembling. Sirius had gone throug the same withdrawal after his time in Azkaban and he was not going to let Draco suffer as he did.
Sirius morphed into Padfoot and lept onto the bed. If Draco was afraid of Sirius in his human form perhaps he would take it better if not threatening and there was certainly nothing scary about the Newfoundland. He nudged Draco's body. The blonde tensed as the dog scooted under the blankets. Sirius laid against Draco, resting his head on his paws. Draco relaxed slightly and drifted off into a nightmare free sleep.
~ ~ ~
Harry stumbled into the dry recesses of the cave, black hair flecked with snow flakes. He scowled at a innocently shrugging Remus. "An hour, you said," Harry mocked, removing his robes. "Some weatherman you would be! I'm cold, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and would you stop laughing at me!" He glared darkly at Remus.
Remus lit a fire, sinking onto the ground. "I'm sorry Harry its just that you whine often." He smiled guilelessly, warming his hands over the flickering flames. Outside, the snow was pouring, bitterly cold wind seeping into the outcropping. Thanks to Severus, he and Harry wouldn't freeze to death. He opened his bag, taking the food contents and setting them on a stone dias he had constructed.
"I do not whine," Harry muttered, though he knew it to be true. He took a seat beside Remus, munching on an offered sandwhich. "You don't think that the wards will sound with the fire, do you?"
"No, we're pretty far from Voldemort's borders. Come this time tomorrow, we will have to be extra careful. I'm estimating that by the night, we shall have breached the fortress. Ron, Hermione, and Blaise will be joining us by the following morning. I only hope that we can hold the Death Eaters off enough until Albus comes with the Order."
Harry nodded, huddling closer to the fire. "Sirius and Draco too. We could use their help...we need all the we can get," he sighed wearily. "I'm sick of fighting this bloody war!" Harry said passionately, voice heated with emotion. "I'm sick of Voldemort! I'm sick of it all! I just want to live normally without fearing for my life and everyone elses." He ended his tirade with a wan smile. "I apologize Remus. I didnt mean to launch into that again."
"Its understandable Harry. I too want it to end. I'd like to go home to Wales, tend my garden, do a few things the Muggle way for a while to just rub in the Death Eater's faces, perhaps even adopt a child." Remus flushed at the animate way Harry was oggling him. "Thats a pleasant fiction."
"Fiction? Why would you call it that?"
"What are the chances we'll actually survive this final battle?" Harry frowned but Remus wasn't paying attention, he was staring in the fire. "I for one, plan to not survive. If this entire war doesn't kill me first, then my being a werewolf will. I already have short lifeline due to the Wolfsbane potion. For me, I'm going to fight without a care for the future."
Harry gaped. Remus was speaking like he was already going to die! "No!" Harry blurted, snapping Remus from his trance. "Don't talk like that Remus! I've already lost my parents, I dont want to lose my friend either. You and Sirius are the only connections I have to them. Please, don't give up."
Remus smiled wanly. "Thank you Harry. Sometimes I forget that I'm not alone anymore. After James and Lily were killed and Sirius was sent to Azkaban, I spent twelve years in seclusion by myself. Its hard to remember that Sirius is back in my life and I have you, as well."
Harry blushed, finding the cookie he was now holding to be interesting. "You'll always have me Remus. I..I hate to be rude but, were you and Sirius a couple?"
Laughing, Remus shook his head. "No we were not." Remus ruffled Harry's hair. "I remember when you were first born. Sirius and I went to see you. You were always smiling with that toothless grin and you enjoyed kicking Sirius. You really took to him. Though, his hair was damaged by your tugs."
Harry chuckled. "And what about you? How did I react?"
Remus' eyes twinkled. "You only stopped crying when I held you."
"I wish I could remember," Harry whispered, lying on his back and tucking his arms beneath his head. There were so many 'if onlys.' "I wish that I had grown up normally with my parents, my godfather, and you."
"Just think Harry. If that had happened. Do you even know how many people would have died? Without you there, the entire wizardring and Muggle world would have fallen to Voldemort sixteen years ago. You saved countless lives. Besides, you'd be a spoilt little brat."
"I suspect Sirius would have been the worse."
"Oh yes. Nothing he loves more than children and teaching them to be pranksters. The poor first years," Remus shook his head sagely. "Sirius would take one or two under his wing and make them into little terrors. James and Sirius were constantly in trouble, worse than Fred and George."
"I feel sorry for whoever managed to get in their bad graces."
"It was mainly Severus but after the entire Shrieking Shack Incident, they left him alone. Besides, Lucius threatened bloody murder to the four of us if we so much as spoke to Severus again. Especially me."
"Lucius was protective of him?" Harry asked incredulously. So, Lucius had once had an ounce of compassion. Voldemort must've changed that. "Why would he be more threatening to you?
"I suspect they were lovers before....before I put my claim on him."
"What?!" Harry cried, blinking several times. "You cannot be serious! You and Snape?!"
Remus shrugged, getting comfortable as he laid down. "I was too shy to go near anyone that I remotely had an interest in. Werewolves mate for life so I couldn't fornicate, not that I would have found the courage to approach anyone sexually. Severus, in fifth year, had to tutor me in Double Potions. We became close and started dating. It lasted a year and a half until Sirius lured him to me when I was a werewolf. He was the first person I had cared about.Then, when I returned to Hogwarts during your third year, Severus and I had a brief relationship."
Harry shuddered. "Still....Snape?"
"He isn't as bad you think he is Harry. He was the only one who could understand me. I thought Sirius had killed your parents, Peter, and those thirteen muggles. But, Sirius came to me a month before you discovered who he was. I believed he had not did it and so we began our friendship again."
"And that was why Snape told you were a werewolf? He was a jealous, wasn't he?"
"Yes. I must admit, it pained me to choose betwixt Severus and Sirius and you know how those two are, spatting like Draco and Ron constantly. I didn't love Severus. I've never loved anyone but one person but I can't have him. So, friendship won in the end."
"Who..who is this person you can't have?"
"Its noone Harry. You should get some rest. The snow will have piled higher and I wouldn't want you to be too worn to tromp through it." Remus grinned cheerfully.
'Changing the subject Remus? I'll find out! I always do.' Harry smirked smugly to himself.
~ ~ ~
Thanks for reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @_@
Next: Blaise, Herimone, Ron set out. Remus/Harry stuff, Sirius/Draco stuff (promise there will be more in the next chapter than the little tidbit in this one!)
Chapter 3
Harry saddled the haversack for the seventh time, the large satchel kept sliding off of his shoulder. The snow was to his knees and every step he seemed to sink further into the cold mush. His robes were drenched from thigh down, clinging to him soddenly. The sky was an angry grey of clouds, signaling what Harry dreaded most; a blizzard. He glanced at his trekking partner. Remus had not once broke through the layers of snow, his nimble footing keeping him atop the mounds. It reminded Harry of Legolas from the Lord of the Rings books. The werewolf appeared to be taking the entire ordeal quite contently.
They had been hiking for a few hours now. The Boy Who Lived desperately wanted to rest, his calve muscles were aching from the strain. Quidditch couldn't even begin to prepare him for this. Harry wondered how Draco was doing and if he and Sirius were behaving. He had not been told where the duo was hiding but he reason to suspect it would some place that niether could escape from if they wanted to.
"We're making excellent time," Remus commented, snapping Harry from his musings. The older wizard kicked at branch from a tree, sending it to the side of the path. Remus cocked his head to the side and stared upwards. "Unfortunately, the weather may not permit us to keep this pace." His nose twitched. "And its going to be soon."
Harry was always amazed that Remus could smell the scent of percipitation and acurately predicted when the moisture would begin. "Do you know how soon? I really don't want to be caught in it." He indicated his wet clothes.
"An hour. There's a cave that Sirius used to hide in when he was on the run. It shouldn't be too far." Remus scanned the surroundings. "Down that hill," he pointed at a distant lump, "There's a concave in the foundation at the base. We'll stay there until the storm passes."
~ ~ ~
Sirius bolted upright on his place on the floor. He held his breath and remained perfectly still. Sobs. He rose to his feet, tip-toeing across the floor to gaze at Draco. The boy was tossing and turning in his sleep, crying mercilessly. The Animagus gently eased onto the bed. He touched Draco's cheeks, wiping the saline trails. So, the nonchalant attitude had just been a front. Sirius had not been given details on Draco's mishap; just what Albus and Harry deemed he should know. Apparently, it was much worse than Sirius had figured.
At the tender gesture, Draco calmed, leaning into the hand on his face. Silver orbs shuttered open, unfocused and misty. He immediately scurried from Sirius's hold and curled into a ball with the blankets nearly shrouding him from view. Sirius could tell from the movement of the covers that he was trembling. Sirius had gone throug the same withdrawal after his time in Azkaban and he was not going to let Draco suffer as he did.
Sirius morphed into Padfoot and lept onto the bed. If Draco was afraid of Sirius in his human form perhaps he would take it better if not threatening and there was certainly nothing scary about the Newfoundland. He nudged Draco's body. The blonde tensed as the dog scooted under the blankets. Sirius laid against Draco, resting his head on his paws. Draco relaxed slightly and drifted off into a nightmare free sleep.
~ ~ ~
Harry stumbled into the dry recesses of the cave, black hair flecked with snow flakes. He scowled at a innocently shrugging Remus. "An hour, you said," Harry mocked, removing his robes. "Some weatherman you would be! I'm cold, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and would you stop laughing at me!" He glared darkly at Remus.
Remus lit a fire, sinking onto the ground. "I'm sorry Harry its just that you whine often." He smiled guilelessly, warming his hands over the flickering flames. Outside, the snow was pouring, bitterly cold wind seeping into the outcropping. Thanks to Severus, he and Harry wouldn't freeze to death. He opened his bag, taking the food contents and setting them on a stone dias he had constructed.
"I do not whine," Harry muttered, though he knew it to be true. He took a seat beside Remus, munching on an offered sandwhich. "You don't think that the wards will sound with the fire, do you?"
"No, we're pretty far from Voldemort's borders. Come this time tomorrow, we will have to be extra careful. I'm estimating that by the night, we shall have breached the fortress. Ron, Hermione, and Blaise will be joining us by the following morning. I only hope that we can hold the Death Eaters off enough until Albus comes with the Order."
Harry nodded, huddling closer to the fire. "Sirius and Draco too. We could use their help...we need all the we can get," he sighed wearily. "I'm sick of fighting this bloody war!" Harry said passionately, voice heated with emotion. "I'm sick of Voldemort! I'm sick of it all! I just want to live normally without fearing for my life and everyone elses." He ended his tirade with a wan smile. "I apologize Remus. I didnt mean to launch into that again."
"Its understandable Harry. I too want it to end. I'd like to go home to Wales, tend my garden, do a few things the Muggle way for a while to just rub in the Death Eater's faces, perhaps even adopt a child." Remus flushed at the animate way Harry was oggling him. "Thats a pleasant fiction."
"Fiction? Why would you call it that?"
"What are the chances we'll actually survive this final battle?" Harry frowned but Remus wasn't paying attention, he was staring in the fire. "I for one, plan to not survive. If this entire war doesn't kill me first, then my being a werewolf will. I already have short lifeline due to the Wolfsbane potion. For me, I'm going to fight without a care for the future."
Harry gaped. Remus was speaking like he was already going to die! "No!" Harry blurted, snapping Remus from his trance. "Don't talk like that Remus! I've already lost my parents, I dont want to lose my friend either. You and Sirius are the only connections I have to them. Please, don't give up."
Remus smiled wanly. "Thank you Harry. Sometimes I forget that I'm not alone anymore. After James and Lily were killed and Sirius was sent to Azkaban, I spent twelve years in seclusion by myself. Its hard to remember that Sirius is back in my life and I have you, as well."
Harry blushed, finding the cookie he was now holding to be interesting. "You'll always have me Remus. I..I hate to be rude but, were you and Sirius a couple?"
Laughing, Remus shook his head. "No we were not." Remus ruffled Harry's hair. "I remember when you were first born. Sirius and I went to see you. You were always smiling with that toothless grin and you enjoyed kicking Sirius. You really took to him. Though, his hair was damaged by your tugs."
Harry chuckled. "And what about you? How did I react?"
Remus' eyes twinkled. "You only stopped crying when I held you."
"I wish I could remember," Harry whispered, lying on his back and tucking his arms beneath his head. There were so many 'if onlys.' "I wish that I had grown up normally with my parents, my godfather, and you."
"Just think Harry. If that had happened. Do you even know how many people would have died? Without you there, the entire wizardring and Muggle world would have fallen to Voldemort sixteen years ago. You saved countless lives. Besides, you'd be a spoilt little brat."
"I suspect Sirius would have been the worse."
"Oh yes. Nothing he loves more than children and teaching them to be pranksters. The poor first years," Remus shook his head sagely. "Sirius would take one or two under his wing and make them into little terrors. James and Sirius were constantly in trouble, worse than Fred and George."
"I feel sorry for whoever managed to get in their bad graces."
"It was mainly Severus but after the entire Shrieking Shack Incident, they left him alone. Besides, Lucius threatened bloody murder to the four of us if we so much as spoke to Severus again. Especially me."
"Lucius was protective of him?" Harry asked incredulously. So, Lucius had once had an ounce of compassion. Voldemort must've changed that. "Why would he be more threatening to you?
"I suspect they were lovers before....before I put my claim on him."
"What?!" Harry cried, blinking several times. "You cannot be serious! You and Snape?!"
Remus shrugged, getting comfortable as he laid down. "I was too shy to go near anyone that I remotely had an interest in. Werewolves mate for life so I couldn't fornicate, not that I would have found the courage to approach anyone sexually. Severus, in fifth year, had to tutor me in Double Potions. We became close and started dating. It lasted a year and a half until Sirius lured him to me when I was a werewolf. He was the first person I had cared about.Then, when I returned to Hogwarts during your third year, Severus and I had a brief relationship."
Harry shuddered. "Still....Snape?"
"He isn't as bad you think he is Harry. He was the only one who could understand me. I thought Sirius had killed your parents, Peter, and those thirteen muggles. But, Sirius came to me a month before you discovered who he was. I believed he had not did it and so we began our friendship again."
"And that was why Snape told you were a werewolf? He was a jealous, wasn't he?"
"Yes. I must admit, it pained me to choose betwixt Severus and Sirius and you know how those two are, spatting like Draco and Ron constantly. I didn't love Severus. I've never loved anyone but one person but I can't have him. So, friendship won in the end."
"Who..who is this person you can't have?"
"Its noone Harry. You should get some rest. The snow will have piled higher and I wouldn't want you to be too worn to tromp through it." Remus grinned cheerfully.
'Changing the subject Remus? I'll find out! I always do.' Harry smirked smugly to himself.
~ ~ ~
Thanks for reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @_@
Next: Blaise, Herimone, Ron set out. Remus/Harry stuff, Sirius/Draco stuff (promise there will be more in the next chapter than the little tidbit in this one!)