Ok, got this one done pretty fast. I tend to write quicker when the action bit comes along! I've decided to split it up into maybe two or three chapters to make it lighter to read but there are a few clues in this chapter as to what will happen in the next.

Chapter 7 : Meeting Madness

'What is he doing here?' Sirius demanded.

The map showed that Jones was in the Potions classroom that in Harry's time would be Snape's office. He  was moving at a  rapid pace around the room occasionally coming to a stop next to the store cupboards.

'It looks as though he's brewing a potion.' Remus concluded. 'Quick get Dumbledore'

'No'. Sirius cut in. 'There's no time, he's obviously in a hurry. We'd better get down there now!'

The two men shot out of their room and ran in the direction of the dungeon. Luckily the jinxed staircase had now been restored and they received little trouble from the others.

'Tch! Kids today, always in a hurry.' A first floor portrait grumbled as the pair ran down the corridor as though their lives depended on it.

Whole hallways seemed to fly by them until they finally came to a stop above the stairway that lead into the dungeons.

'He's still in there' Lupin checked the map. 'Get your wand out, just in case, this could get dangerous.'

Wands poised before them Sirius and Remus moved soundlessly, cautiously down the staircase. A few candles burned to each side of the stairs but the whole of the ground floor was in complete darkness, obviously the Potions Master had already gone to bed.

An eerie silence hung over the dungeons. The only sound Harry could hear was his own heart drumming rapidly inside his chest, beating so hard he could feel it. He clung to the length of rope that served as a stair-rail, his legs were so weak he was unsure that they'd be able to support him. Sheer fear made him want to close his eyes but curiosity willed him to keep them open.

The two men before him steadily crept forward, slowly moving their feet so as not to make audible contact with the cold, stone floor. Harry could sense the tension rising within his two companions, Sirius's breathing was becoming loud and heavy, Remus's wand wavered in front of him due to a trembling hand. He wished they would light their wands as it was becoming difficult to keep up with the blackened figures but they obviously thought it safer not to draw attention to themselves.

Remus stopped outside a half-open, heavy, wooden door. He turned to give a brief glance at Sirius.

Harry felt a shiver run down his spine, a tight lump formed in his throat. This was it, Malus Jones was behind this door.

The two friends seemed to be signaling to each other, what they were saying Harry couldn't tell and he wasn't given time to wonder. All of a sudden the door before them crashed open with an almighty bang. Remus had flung back the door with extreme force hoping to take Jones by surprise. Within seconds of each other Remus, Sirius and Jones had all lit their wands.

Remus and Sirius stood blocking the doorway, they found Jones in the opposite corner leaning over a bubbling cauldron. The figure of the man was barely noticeable as the light of the wands struggled to cut through the heavy darkness. It was only the light from Malus's own wand that made him visible.

Jones face hung in the air like a bodiless spectre, pale and weary, dense shadows framing his piercing eyes.

'Well look who has come to join the party' he sneered in a deep , gravelly voice.

Jones stirred the mixture within the cauldron absently.

'I'd have made extra but I don't remember you being invited'

His eyes stared motionlessly at the two intruders.

'Where is Sonny?' Sirius demanded. 'And Lily and James'

'Aaah' Jones closed his eyes and let out a slow deep breath.

'Answer me!' Black yelled but his words fell on deaf ears.

'Just tell us where they are Jones?' Remus tried to reason with the man 'If you do then we'll leave, if not then it looks like we'll have to drag this out.'

A twisted smile appeared on Jones face.  His evil eyes widened, grotesque lines appeared around his pale forehead confirming Remus's deepest fears, this man was indeed a psychopath. Jones let out a loud deranged laugh as he tipped back his head, a shaggy mass of hair sticking to the sides of his crooked face. He looked to Harry like a werewolf crying out to the full moon, not that he had anything against werewolves of course.

'Oh I bet you had fun with that one!' Jones snarled bearing his yellowed teeth, that hideous smile playing on the corners of his mouth.

'Sending James and Lily into hiding. Trying to get me into trouble with my master! Well you are too predictable you foolish wizards,' he spat. 'Every time anything goes wrong for you people it's 'Oooh lets run to Dumbledore'' Jones voice was now high pitched and mocking. 'I hoped it would be Lily and James that fled here but I suppose the girl will do.'

'So you do have Sonny?' Remus asked calmly trying not to unhinge Jones any further.

Jones giggled and began to sway around on the spot like some kind of deranged Jack-In-The-Box.

'Oh such a sweetie' he taunted '' Oh, please let me go, don't hurt me. I just wanted to go back to school early, honest.'' his eyes rolled madly around in his head.

'I'M NOT STUPID!' Jones bellowed, saliva flying from his mouth. 'I know what all of you puritanical little gits think of me! 'Oh that Jones he's round the bloody bend.' Not quite my dear  fellows I'M STARK RAVING MAD!!!'

Jones began to rant and yell, his eyes twitched convulsively. As his tantrum continued Sirius took the opportunity to look around the room. Moving further into the dungeon he scanned the various items that Jones had removed from the store cupboard. The mad -man did not seem to notice as he continued to shout out anything that came into his mind whilst animatedly swinging his arms around. Sirius moved back towards Remus.

'Looks like he is making a Sedative Draft, maybe he's using it to keep Sonny unconscious.'

Remus nodded.

'I've just looked at the map. Sonny is in the Forbidden Forest, he must have been keeping her in the top corner that the map doesn't completely cover. She seems to be moving slowly towards the castle. Saying that she's barely moving at all, he must have sedated her before and now he's making a top-up batch because the first is wearing off.'

Jones did not notice this conversation. He was now jumping up and down on a table shouting abuse that he seemed to be directing at his father.

Ok, we'll bind him after three' Sirius suggested. 'One, two...three......'

But it was too late. Jones had discovered their plan and as thin cords shot out of the conspirators wands he jumped down from the table.

'Nox' Malus cried and his wand extinguished.

 To Remus and Sirius he was now invisible. The friends frantically shone their wand light around the room but he was nowhere to be seen.

 Seconds later Lupin felt something small and bristly brush against his upper leg and the heavy door swung shut behind them.