51. The Clock Ticks
After leaving Dumbledore's office everyone began to search the huge castle once more in earnest. Snape's temper was rising along with his anxiety level. Something horrid had happened to Evangeline, the longer this went on, the more convinced of this he became. Once again, he'd failed to keep her safe, yet he'd always believed in the inviolability of Hogwarts. If this was no longer true, then how safe were any of them here?
As Snape was ascending from one more fruitless check of the dungeons he met Eleanor in the entrance hall. She had to report her total failure to so much as hear a noise caused by another living soul. It was getting unbearably frustrating. As they were trying to decide just where to search next, the front door to the castle opened and Margie Sharp entered the hall. She gave them both a bright smile and greeted them warmly.
"Hello, Eleanor, Professor Snape! It's a beautiful day, isn't it? I've just been taking a walk around the lake. So many birds and the trees are so pretty! I'd forgotten how wondrous it can be around here when the weather is fine."
Snape looked about ready to snap her head off and feed it to the giant squid if she continued to spout inanities, so Eleanor decided to jump in swiftly and asked, "Have you seen, Evangeline, Margie? We've been looking everywhere for her."
Margie shook her head and shrugged casually. "I haven't seen her since lunch, but I wouldn't worry. She's a bride-to-be. There are bound to be lots of last minute details, she needs to take care of. She's probably gone into Hogsmeade or even to London, I suppose. It's so easy for her to get around through those pictures, after all." She smiled pleasantly.
A shiver ran through Eleanor, and she glanced at Snape, who was still frowning darkly at Margie.
She stepped up and took Margie's arm in hers and steered her into the Great Hall. "I suppose you're right, Margie. Evangeline's got a lot to take care of before the wedding. There are always a million things that a bride has to do, after all. Oh by the way, I wanted to thank you for the lovely flowers you sent to my mother last month, when she was in hospital. Roses have always been her favorite. How did you know?"
Margie smiled brightly. "You must have mentioned it at some point, Eleanor. It just stuck in my head. I'm so glad she liked them."
Suddenly Eleanor twisted Margie's arm behind her back and held her tightly. Snape snapped to attention at this and came quickly up beside her, hoping for an explanation for this sudden change of demeanor.
"Eleanor! What are you doing?" Margie exclaimed in alarm, struggling urgently with her friend.
Keeping a firm grip on the surprised Margie, Eleanor smiled coldly. "My mother died two years ago. Margie Sharp came to the funeral. She didn't send roses, either, because she knew my mother hated them. Who are you?"
Without a word, Snape snatched Margie out of Eleanor's grasp and threw her roughly into a chair. With a wave of his wand, she was bound up tightly. Then he turned to Eleanor with a speculative look. "How did you know?"
She frowned down at "Margie". "Neither Margie nor Ariantha know about Evangeline's ability to move through paintings. She mentioned that again just after we arrived here. I found out accidentally while we were all still at Hogwarts. At the time, she swore me to secrecy, and I've never betrayed her trust. Obviously, this person, whoever she is, has information Margie shouldn't have. Hence my test."
At that point, Dumbledore and McGonagall entered the room, accompanied by Ariantha and "James". Seeing her friend tied to a chair, Ariantha stormed over in a fury. "Diva" temper on high blower. "What's going on here? What sort of outrageous behavior is this? Why have you tied up Margie?"
Eleanor turned to Ariantha and put a hand on her arm to calm her down. "It's not Margie, Aria. This is an impostor! She's apparently kidnapped Evangeline and Professor Lupin."
"What!" yelled "James" as he stomped over to join them. Equally as outraged as Ariantha had been a moment before him.
Dumbledore stepped forward and looked at Snape. "Are you sure this woman is the culprit, Severus?"
Snape nodded darkly. "It certainly appears so, Albus."
They all turned to stare at "Margie", who smirked back at them defiantly.
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Time was running out, and so were options, back at the tower. It was now a bit after six o'clock. Evangeline was beginning to tremble with cold, fatigue, and fear, not to mention the after effects of the curse Malfoy threw at her as a parting gesture. She sat down against the wall and drew herself into a ball. There just didn't seem to be a way out of this place! How did everything get so messed up? She was supposed to be getting married in two days. This should be a wonderful time. Instead she could be dead in less than two hours, without even getting to say goodbye to Severus. The next thing he'd hear of her was when he found whatever would be left of her body after the werewolf got through ripping her to shreds. It hurt to picture the look in his eyes…he'd be so devastated, and he'd blame Lupin. He might not even find out about Malfoy…at least not at first, eventually Lucius would want to be sure to claim credit just to twist the knife a little more. Damn the man! How could anyone be such a monster?
Lupin was pacing the floor like the caged animal he was soon to become. The strong urges that come on him shortly before transformation were trying to grab hold of him. It was making him anxious and fidgety. He needed to move…to hunt. But the only possible prey here was much too dear to him…Damn it! There had to be some way out of this trap, there simply had to be! He stopped and stared painfully at Evangeline huddled up against the wall. It had been bad enough to find out he'd almost killed Severus because of Sirius' stupid prank back when they were all in school, but this was 100 times worse! To have to stare into her eyes and know that in a couple of hours, he'd be responsible for her death. No. Not this time! Malfoy wasn't going to force him to kill someone he loved! Evangeline would not die because of him. He hadn't lost all control over himself or the situation yet. There was one more thing he could do. One final thing.
Slowly he walked over and sat down next to Evangeline on the dirt floor. Deliberately he felt along the hem of his robe until he found just the right spot. Then he ripped open the fabric and carefully took out a round white pill, the size of his smallest fingernail. He stared at it soberly, more thankful for its existence than he ever thought he could be.
Evangeline sat up straighter and watched him curiously. "What's that, Remus?"
He held it triumphantly in his hand and continued to stare at it. "Salvation."
She frowned in puzzlement and shook her head. "I don't understand."
He took a deep breath, turned, and looked into her eyes. "It's a fast acting poison, Evangeline. I won't be responsible for your death! If I kill you, Severus will kill me, and if he doesn't I'll kill myself anyway. I might as well skip the part where I kill you and go straight to the finale."
Her eyes filled with tears, and she gasped sharply. "Oh, Remus, no! We've got to find another answer!" She clutched his arm desperately, shocked at the horror of this latest development.
He put his arms around her and held her close to him. Wishing with all his heart that circumstances were different. "I'm so sorry, Evangeline," he murmured gently. "I just don't think there is another answer." He paused, then added softly, "Besides I'm a dead man as soon as Severus discovers what I did to you this afternoon."
Evangeline shivered in Remus' embrace as she realized the truth behind his words. She swallowed hard as she sought to find the words to reassure him. "He doesn't have to find out, Remus. I promise I won't tell him."
Lupin smiled into her hair. "Thank you, Evangeline, but I don't think Lucius Malfoy will be so kind. Besides, this would be the second time you've had to hide my appalling behavior from Severus. That's too much to ask. He's the man you're going to marry, Angel; you shouldn't be starting your life together with secrets. Severus deserves to know that he was right all along to hate and distrust me." His voice dripped with bitter loathing.
Evangeline shifted in his arms and put her hand under his chin, turning his face to hers. "That's not true, Remus. The first time was a mistake caused by an unfortunate situation that we both promised to never discuss again. What happened today was totally the fault of that sadistic madman, Lucius Malfoy. If Severus had been in your place, he wouldn't have been able to resist that curse any more than you could. It's not like you didn't try to resist. I know you'd never hurt me on purpose. I trust you, Remus, and I could never hate you. If I can prevent it, Severus will never know about this. If I can't prevent his finding out, then I'll make sure that he understands that this was not your fault! I won't let Severus hurt you over this!"
She pried open the hand that tightly clutched the poison pill. "And I won't let you kill yourself because of me! We've got to find another way. We've got to!"
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