Disclaimer: See Part 1.

Part 12

They walked in a leisurely silence, nodding to passing students, as the headed down toward the dungeons.

A voice calling out to them made Harry cringe and turn to lean miserably against the wall. Lupin looked at him pointedly, but merely raised an eyebrow in response to the running footsteps.

Hermione rounded the corner and slowed to a stop in front of the pair.

"Harry, I need to speak to you," she said trying to regain her breath.

"I'm sorry to disappoint, but Remus and I are looking forward to a private discussion of our own. Maybe some other time..." he spoke evenly and without malice. To tired to really fight her on the matter.

"I know that, but I really need to speak to you. It's important..."

"No, Hermione. Not tonight. I've been waiting to speak all day with Remus. It's important to me, to both of us." Harry replied. Remus looked from one to the other and back again, his confusion apparent to them.

"What about me? And Ron? I've been trying to get you to talk to me for the past week. Remus can wait, can't he?" she pleaded; her anger was seeping into her eyes though. Harry glared at her.

"You and Ron had your chance. Instead of listening to me, I got accusations, anger, and a fat lip. You and Ron can damn well wait until I am good and ready to talk to you again. If that time comes...  Remus hasn't seen me since seventh year and has waited patiently all day long, until I would be able to talk to him on dignified and private terms. So, if you'll excuse us, we must be going." he turned from her, walking once again toward his rooms.

"Harry! Don't you walk away from me again!" she called after him. He ignored her and kept walking. "I warned you," she whispered. The hex caught him in the back and spread both up and down his spine. Petrificus Totalus.

The familiar but long absent pain sliced through his immobile form as his muscles tightened and he fell forward onto the floor. His nose and chin hit the floor with a painful sounding crack. He didn't notice that particular sensation. The pain was worse then ten Cruciatus Curses all at the same time. He felt his heart speed up and he fought against the curse binding him. It hurt so much. He wanted to scream.

There was a stunned silence from the two standing over him. Hermione in awe of her own stupidity; Remus in disbelief of her childish actions. Hurried footsteps and a yelled command startled them both.

"Release him!" It was a powerful voice, coming from behind them. Hermione turned around. Dumbledore and Severus were running toward them. Snape dropped to his knees beside the prone form, rolling the stiff body over onto it's back. "Release him! You stupid Girl!" he sneered. He hastily whispered the counter spell.

An inhumane shriek rose from Harry's loosened throat as he thrashed in Severus' arms. He bellowed and sobbed, and clawed at the thick black robes covering Sev's thighs. As suddenly as the sound had started, it stopped. Harry fell unconscious in Snape's lap, face feverish and sweaty. All of the inhabitants of the castle sat in stunned silence; immobilized by the sheer agony they had heard reverberating through every corner of the castle.

Even the ghosts floated frozen in place, stunned by the faded scream. Peeves dropped the vase he held, and took no delight in the crash it made as it hit the stone floor.

Tbc.

PS: I'm also leaving you with a cliffhanger

8oP