I think I mentioned that Fanfiction wouldn't let me upload any new
documents for some time, didn't I? Boy, that got me into a panic...
Chapter 31: Voices.
Remus personally thought that Harry had far too much of his father's stubborness and the wrong mix of his mother's temper. When Sirius told him the very basics of what was going to happen, the worse of both came out. If Remus hadn't been so tightly strung - having gotten little sleep the night before - he would've been slightly amused.
"Sirius?" Harry nearly shouted. "Why?"
"Harry, please calm down--"
"But why not? If *you* are--"
"Harry, please don't be ridiculous," Remus finally said firmly. "This is not the time for you to go risking your life. Can't you see, it's barely anything, but it can only be that when we have specialised, well-trained and experienced people out there. We can't let you go out and maybe die--"
Harry turned to him, Lily's eyes glittering furiously. "What if I *don't* die?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus finally snapped. "You won't be going anyway!"
And that was the end of that although their relationship with Harry never quite seemed the same after that.
~
Severus wouldn't be staying for anything.
"I'm off to Durmstrang," he had explained, face pale, but his appearance calm. "You will be careful, won't you?"
Remus had nodded numbly. "We'll get through this anyway."
Severus laughed coldly. "The warrior who speaks indiscriminately brings only shame."
"Hm?"
"Zen Buddhism."
He turned to Remus.
"Say something," Severus said, an unusual note of worry in his voice and something like despair in his eyes. He held Remus' head between both hus hands. "Remus, *say* something... please." He sighed when Remus could only avert his gaze.
~
They had come very close to actually having sex that night. But for both of them, it simply felt rather wrong. After all, there was the strong possibility that neither would make it after this. Rather than heighten the mood, as it may do for some, it rather dampened it down a bit. Even so, Remus liked being held tightly in Severus arms, and the feel of his naked body spooned up against his.
~
"I'm going to give you something to try," Severus said.
"Oh?"
"Jona said that it should be alright."
"Yees..."
"If the Killing curse comes for you..."
"...Mmm?"
"Say Abortisma. And move out of the way."
Remus blinked.
"Alright."
~
By the fifth day, they all knew of their positions. Jona, Harim, Eleni and Severus had found the very old books of the school which described the protective shield that surrounded it. They had found out where the key points and boundaries lay, for it to be powered up or used offensively again if ever the others of the Order found themselves in serious trouble.
~
In the evening - after Severus had left - Remus and Lira made their way up to Dumbledore's office, accompanied by Harry. He seemed to have cooled off by then (though Remus' experiences with Lily's own temper persuaded him to think otherwise) and had insisted on getting to see the map of Links. He said it would help for him to actually see how it worked.
Lira and Harry actually got on well. This pleased the werewolf to no end, as it would mean that there would be nothing for Sirius to start worrying about.
Once in, Remus saw that McGonagall was amongst those who had been chosen for tonight's viewing of the Seeing Opal. She turned round and looked at Harry with some surprise in her eyes. She gave Remus a bewildered blink (as bewildered as one could get from the Head of Gryffindor House herself)
Dumbledore didn't seem surprised at all. Instead, he let Harry look at it and answered all of the boy's questions, but never ventured anything.
Remus personally didn't know what to make of this.
~
The morning of the sixth day came.
"Of course, I won't be joining you," Lira said tiredly. "But I am allowed to be a nurse of sorts. I'll know which of you are in serious trouble so I'll be able to arrive... depending..." She went along the line. "These are medicine kits. A little supply of nutrients... needles... thread... bandages... potions, take care of those in particular. Ah! Your personal Links that I can use to get to you." Brightening - for some odd, twisted reason, Remus thought to himself, amused - she smiled at them.
They looked up at the wall with a map of Hogwarts and it's grounds and Remus realised how much it was like their Marauder's map.
The feeling within him was manly one of adrenaline, in the form of something like anxiety. It was actually rather exhausting which meant that Remus had to count his breathing.
"Soon," Dumbledore said, "the Death Eaters will arrive on the edge of our grounds. If Jona and Miriam's estimates are correct, around 80% of the golem army will be obliterated." He looked at them all. "You know of your positions: it is vital that you stick to them. Any signal that you are given, you respond to immediately."
They all nodded.
~
It was now early evening.
No sign of any of the golem army.
~
Much later evening and some of the Extensive Order were fighting off sleep. Remus managed to be all eyes, however, and began to pace.
The map was still up and flashing. Just about everything else except for the Extensive Order was busy.
It wasn't helping at all.
~
"Jesus."
Sirius' eyes snapped open. "What?"
"Look," Remus pointed to the map.
You could see where the boundaries were. Whatever Jona and Miriam had done, it was working. The army of golems that seemed to pour into Hogwarts simply melted away as soon as they struck these boundaries. It was quite amazing to watch.
Dumbledore's eyes were alert. "Group #5: Move."
The group of seven walked into a circle specially designed to apparate large groups and Remus watched as green flame flickered round the edges and they eventually vanished.
~
With no apparent trouble, Dumbledore sent Group after group methodically and as planned before.
Eventually, Group #3 had to depart. Remus' group.
~
The feeling of being apparated in this fashion was a mixture of transforming and Floo Powder. An odd sort of rush, the feeling of being pleasantly spaghettified. And landing. A weird type of relief, in a way because you were now on familiar ground. Normal footing.
They were now on the top of a ridge in the earth, looking down over some flat ground some three meteres below. Trees were growing along the dge of this ridge: perfect place to hide.
Perfect place to get lost.
At least, he thought, Sirius was in his group.
Sirius looked at his map.
"They'll be coming to us, remember," he said calmly, taking out his wand. "They'll be coming to us."
"Down! Now!" Someone behind them whispered.
They obeyed, carefully concealing themselves behind the trees and low-lying shrubbery. "What is it?" Remus hissed.
"Ssh!" Said someone behind them.
"They're coming," Sirius whispered in reply.
"Where from?"
"Will you all just *shut-up*!"
"In front. We can get rid of them pretty easy."
"Simple sleeping charm?"
"Yup. Combined efforts. Get them hauled up before the judges," a woman said, cold humour in her voice. It made Remus shiver. "After Dumbledore's finished with them, looks like we'll have to play grave-diggers."
There were some quiet sniggers. Even Sirius smiled.
"Here they come..." he whispered.
Their wands were aimed well. Each had one dark robed figure for themselves. These Death Eaters were well-trained. They were skulking. They were quiet. In fact, they had concealed themselves pretty well, considering. It was simply because of their maps (Remus had had his upside down) that they knew they were there in front of them.
"Steady."
They were approaching.
"Fire at will."
~
All but Remus, Sirius and the woman with the cold voice went witht he bewitched, human Death Eaters.
"We'll be meeting with the other remnanats of the other groups, soon," she said. Her yellow hair was grey streaked. She took out her map and folded it up. "That was quickly done, eh?"
They didn't hear the muttered curse.
They simply saw the Green light. And the woman fell down dead.
*
TBC veer soon...
Chapter 31: Voices.
Remus personally thought that Harry had far too much of his father's stubborness and the wrong mix of his mother's temper. When Sirius told him the very basics of what was going to happen, the worse of both came out. If Remus hadn't been so tightly strung - having gotten little sleep the night before - he would've been slightly amused.
"Sirius?" Harry nearly shouted. "Why?"
"Harry, please calm down--"
"But why not? If *you* are--"
"Harry, please don't be ridiculous," Remus finally said firmly. "This is not the time for you to go risking your life. Can't you see, it's barely anything, but it can only be that when we have specialised, well-trained and experienced people out there. We can't let you go out and maybe die--"
Harry turned to him, Lily's eyes glittering furiously. "What if I *don't* die?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus finally snapped. "You won't be going anyway!"
And that was the end of that although their relationship with Harry never quite seemed the same after that.
~
Severus wouldn't be staying for anything.
"I'm off to Durmstrang," he had explained, face pale, but his appearance calm. "You will be careful, won't you?"
Remus had nodded numbly. "We'll get through this anyway."
Severus laughed coldly. "The warrior who speaks indiscriminately brings only shame."
"Hm?"
"Zen Buddhism."
He turned to Remus.
"Say something," Severus said, an unusual note of worry in his voice and something like despair in his eyes. He held Remus' head between both hus hands. "Remus, *say* something... please." He sighed when Remus could only avert his gaze.
~
They had come very close to actually having sex that night. But for both of them, it simply felt rather wrong. After all, there was the strong possibility that neither would make it after this. Rather than heighten the mood, as it may do for some, it rather dampened it down a bit. Even so, Remus liked being held tightly in Severus arms, and the feel of his naked body spooned up against his.
~
"I'm going to give you something to try," Severus said.
"Oh?"
"Jona said that it should be alright."
"Yees..."
"If the Killing curse comes for you..."
"...Mmm?"
"Say Abortisma. And move out of the way."
Remus blinked.
"Alright."
~
By the fifth day, they all knew of their positions. Jona, Harim, Eleni and Severus had found the very old books of the school which described the protective shield that surrounded it. They had found out where the key points and boundaries lay, for it to be powered up or used offensively again if ever the others of the Order found themselves in serious trouble.
~
In the evening - after Severus had left - Remus and Lira made their way up to Dumbledore's office, accompanied by Harry. He seemed to have cooled off by then (though Remus' experiences with Lily's own temper persuaded him to think otherwise) and had insisted on getting to see the map of Links. He said it would help for him to actually see how it worked.
Lira and Harry actually got on well. This pleased the werewolf to no end, as it would mean that there would be nothing for Sirius to start worrying about.
Once in, Remus saw that McGonagall was amongst those who had been chosen for tonight's viewing of the Seeing Opal. She turned round and looked at Harry with some surprise in her eyes. She gave Remus a bewildered blink (as bewildered as one could get from the Head of Gryffindor House herself)
Dumbledore didn't seem surprised at all. Instead, he let Harry look at it and answered all of the boy's questions, but never ventured anything.
Remus personally didn't know what to make of this.
~
The morning of the sixth day came.
"Of course, I won't be joining you," Lira said tiredly. "But I am allowed to be a nurse of sorts. I'll know which of you are in serious trouble so I'll be able to arrive... depending..." She went along the line. "These are medicine kits. A little supply of nutrients... needles... thread... bandages... potions, take care of those in particular. Ah! Your personal Links that I can use to get to you." Brightening - for some odd, twisted reason, Remus thought to himself, amused - she smiled at them.
They looked up at the wall with a map of Hogwarts and it's grounds and Remus realised how much it was like their Marauder's map.
The feeling within him was manly one of adrenaline, in the form of something like anxiety. It was actually rather exhausting which meant that Remus had to count his breathing.
"Soon," Dumbledore said, "the Death Eaters will arrive on the edge of our grounds. If Jona and Miriam's estimates are correct, around 80% of the golem army will be obliterated." He looked at them all. "You know of your positions: it is vital that you stick to them. Any signal that you are given, you respond to immediately."
They all nodded.
~
It was now early evening.
No sign of any of the golem army.
~
Much later evening and some of the Extensive Order were fighting off sleep. Remus managed to be all eyes, however, and began to pace.
The map was still up and flashing. Just about everything else except for the Extensive Order was busy.
It wasn't helping at all.
~
"Jesus."
Sirius' eyes snapped open. "What?"
"Look," Remus pointed to the map.
You could see where the boundaries were. Whatever Jona and Miriam had done, it was working. The army of golems that seemed to pour into Hogwarts simply melted away as soon as they struck these boundaries. It was quite amazing to watch.
Dumbledore's eyes were alert. "Group #5: Move."
The group of seven walked into a circle specially designed to apparate large groups and Remus watched as green flame flickered round the edges and they eventually vanished.
~
With no apparent trouble, Dumbledore sent Group after group methodically and as planned before.
Eventually, Group #3 had to depart. Remus' group.
~
The feeling of being apparated in this fashion was a mixture of transforming and Floo Powder. An odd sort of rush, the feeling of being pleasantly spaghettified. And landing. A weird type of relief, in a way because you were now on familiar ground. Normal footing.
They were now on the top of a ridge in the earth, looking down over some flat ground some three meteres below. Trees were growing along the dge of this ridge: perfect place to hide.
Perfect place to get lost.
At least, he thought, Sirius was in his group.
Sirius looked at his map.
"They'll be coming to us, remember," he said calmly, taking out his wand. "They'll be coming to us."
"Down! Now!" Someone behind them whispered.
They obeyed, carefully concealing themselves behind the trees and low-lying shrubbery. "What is it?" Remus hissed.
"Ssh!" Said someone behind them.
"They're coming," Sirius whispered in reply.
"Where from?"
"Will you all just *shut-up*!"
"In front. We can get rid of them pretty easy."
"Simple sleeping charm?"
"Yup. Combined efforts. Get them hauled up before the judges," a woman said, cold humour in her voice. It made Remus shiver. "After Dumbledore's finished with them, looks like we'll have to play grave-diggers."
There were some quiet sniggers. Even Sirius smiled.
"Here they come..." he whispered.
Their wands were aimed well. Each had one dark robed figure for themselves. These Death Eaters were well-trained. They were skulking. They were quiet. In fact, they had concealed themselves pretty well, considering. It was simply because of their maps (Remus had had his upside down) that they knew they were there in front of them.
"Steady."
They were approaching.
"Fire at will."
~
All but Remus, Sirius and the woman with the cold voice went witht he bewitched, human Death Eaters.
"We'll be meeting with the other remnanats of the other groups, soon," she said. Her yellow hair was grey streaked. She took out her map and folded it up. "That was quickly done, eh?"
They didn't hear the muttered curse.
They simply saw the Green light. And the woman fell down dead.
*
TBC veer soon...
