Hello everybody! Still reading? Good! Because I really worked hard for this
chapter. And I wasn't the only one!
Big, BIG THANKS to my (brandnew!) beta Lisande!!!
Sylvia: Thans so much for reviewing (and for congratulating :) )! Don't worry, I don't plan on giving up anytime soon! Especially not with so many nice people reviewing! Well, actually you're right, but there are two reasons why this is all so complicated: First - I didn't plan the story further than chapter six and Second - I'm evil and like to torture Sirius, because I love making it all good later. You know, 'patting him on the head' and so on. ;)
A.Dee: Thanks for reviewing! Not Sirius-friendly? Well, I guess you're right, authors who do such horrible things to their main- and favorite- charakters simply aren't friendly. But I'll make it good, promise!
Someone Reading: Thank you! Joining the circus? Hm, sounds like a good idea to me . . . Anyway, you needn't worry, I've a beta now, so if it's still unbearable to read you can blame her! ;) I'm still here for any flames concering Sirius-torture. The reason for the stone-idea being a bit foggy is that I don't really know what exactly it is either - I already said it, I didn't plan this story very far. (Should start thinking up a good explanation, though, shouldn' I?) 'bout Dumbledore - I just wrote him that way because I don't understand him. That man's a riddle to me! As for the voices - interesting idea indeed . . . Ok, I'll go on torturing Remmy and Siri now. Oh, and thanks so much for the nice song! ;)
noraseyes: Thanks! Hope you like this chapter, too!
Lisande: Thanky muchy for reviewing(y?)! 'cause I wouldn't - ok, maybe . . . Stupid stone, I think that thing knows more about the plot than me! Yeah, I visit the site regulary, the pics are just great!
Nicola: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chapter, too! Read 'Runaway' already? Piece of Sirius-torture even I like! (Though it's my own . . .)
mette: Thank YOU! I'm glad you liked it, but are you so sure, that he's out? *evil grin* But I'll try not to let you wait so long next time!
karno-L: Thanks! I already said it: Are you SURE about Siri being free? *even eviler grin* But the idea with Remus-torture isn't bad, I'll keep it in mind! ;)
Hpfan1928: Thanks for reviewing! Well, if you liked it so far I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, too!
Alright, and here's the fun-part: Chapter 20 - Long Way Home! Enjoy!
Long Way Home
The hallway was dark. Only at the end there was a slight orange shimmer, probably cast by a torch. Padfoot hurried towards it. He knew that he didn't have much time and that he needed to get out as fast as possible.
The floor was wet and slippery, and his leg was killing him. He already felt cold and exhausted, but fear and despair were driving him on. He reached a fork. Skidding to a halt he peered down both ways carefully, ears straining to hear the smallest sound.
Both dark, both cold, both wet, no clue which might lead where to. He gave an inwardly sigh 'Well, you didn't expect the walls to be plastered with signs, did you?', a corner of his mind sneered. He told it to shut up and thought. Then he remembered the bloke that had come to him. Going back to sniff what he smelled like would cost too much time, so he decided to go on the freshest track he could find.
He sniffed his way around a good ten minutes, when he reached a bigger fork. The scents mingled here, leading and coming from all directions. His pulse quickened and he strained his ears while thinking furiously. What should he do now?
Snape. He was most likely to leave the Lair frequently; maybe following his track would get him out. At least he didn't need to worry about finding the scent, he knew exactly what the git smelled like. Nose to the floor and ears perked he worked his way down the hallway.
It wasn't long before he heard voices and footsteps echoing down the hall. Someone was coming towards him. Glancing around quickly he spotted a small niche about ten feet from him. As quietly as he could the black dog crammed himself in the small space and waited.
His heart was pounding in his throat, as if trying to skip out of his mouth. He wondered if the bypassers would hear it. The voices drew nearer. Padfoot closed his eyes, praying that the dark fur would melt into the wall he was pressing up at.
"- so if he's reliable then why is he taking so long? Surely he doesn't spoon-feed Black?"
He would've recognised that sneer everywhere. Lucius Malfoy was striding down the hall, and though he was wearing a mask Padfoot could tell that his face was screwed up in anger. The slightly smaller figure beside him just ducked it's head, seemingly intimidated by the higher ranking Death Eater.
'They're coming for me!', jumped into Padfoot's mind, but though the panic rising in his chest he forced himself to freeze and not to catch their attention. He was lucky. Malfoy, obviously too focused on his anger and the other, scared speechless, walked right past him. Padfoot thanked the gods that the hall was so dark.
When he was sure that they were out of hearing range he hurried down the hallway, ears trying desperately to catch any sound apart from his slightly ragged breath. Just a few minutes now and Malfoy would discover him gone. The Death Eater wasn't stupid, he'd be able to figure that their prisoner couldn't be far.
He scurried down another hall, pressing himself to the wall in the hope that bypassers wouldn't see him immediately. Snape's scent was getting fainter and fainter, drowned by all the other smells layering the ground here. This was a frequently used path.
An echo chimed down the hall and Padfoot knew that they'd just discovered the unconscious Death Eater. Why the hell hadn't he taken his wand? He was so dead.
Suddenly his nose picked a rather new track. It was the Potions Master's and it led into a slightly smaller hall on the right of the main way he was using now. Figuring that this was his only chance he turned the corner just in time to flee Malfoy's eyes as he came racing down the hall.
He followed Snape's path as fast as possible, nose sticking to the ground and heart thundering in his chest. He was dimly aware of the pain rushing through his system and the exhaustion, threatening to take him over.
And suddenly the track was gone. He jumped slightly, fearing that his panic had slipped off his attention. But a few feet back he could still trace Snape's scent and at this point it was suddenly gone. He ran around in a circle for a few minutes, desperately trying to figure out what was happening here.
And then the lingering prickle of magic overwhelmed his sensitive nose. Of course, he'd Apparated from here! Padfoot looked around desperately. He needed a wand to Apparate. He'd come so far!
The voices were back. His heart did a fliflop as he realised that they were searching for him. Over the yells he could hear Malfoy, ordering to block every way out. If he didn't get a wand in the next two minutes his chance would be gone!
Suddenly the world seemed to become much quieter. Padfoot just now realised that he'd been holding his breath and let it out slowly. This was his chance, he knew what to do.
Feeling much calmer suddenly he slowly went back to where the smaller hall met the main, careful not to draw any attention to himself. He ducked low in the shadows and waited. His heart was still pounding furiously and the adrenaline rushing through his veins urged him to move, but he forced himself still, concentrating on his own heartbeat.
In slow motion, as if somebody was playing a film, a Death Eater ran past him at a snake's crawl, wand outstretched and ready to hex. Padfoot pounced.
His jaws clenched around the robed arm, he could feel bones snap under his teeth and a cry of pain wailed in his ears. Paralysed by pain and surprise the Death Eater dropped his wand and just stared. That was what Padfoot had been waiting for.
In the break of a second he transformed back into man and grabbed the fallen wand. Shouts arose from behind him, but he dived back into the smaller hall as fast as he'd jumped out of it. Ignoring the throbbing pain in both his arm and head he raced down the dimly lit hall, panic spurting him on.
Curses and hexes were flying past his ears and a Reductor-Curse missed him by a hair's width. He could practically feel the magic crimping his hair as he flew towards the spot from where Snape had Apparated.
Suddenly a jet of light caught him in the legs, sending searing pain up his body. He stumbled and fell, crashing to the floor face-first.
(A/N: I was tempted to end the chapter here.)
~*~*~*~*~*~
Professor Dumbledore stood behind his desk and let his gaze drift over the school grounds. Hagrid was roaming in the pumpkin patch and the Gryffindor Quidditch team was practising under the watchful eye of Madam Hooch. The sky was stacked with heavy snow clouds, casting dark shadows.
He sighed and turned around to face his pet phoenix, Fawkes. The scarlet and gold bird looked back at him with beady eyes, as if watching it's master disapprovingly. The old wizard sat down in his armchair and regarded the Phoenix with grave expression.
"I couldn't tell them, you know that."
He let out another heavy sigh and let his eyes stray back to the window. Fawkes gave a soft cry and rose in the air. With a few elegant wingflaps he soared over to Dumbledore and landed gracefully on his shoulder. The Headmaster reached up and stroked the sparkly feathers.
"I just hope I wasn't wrong this time."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Remus was pacing his quarters once more. The action was beginning to wear him out and his legs began to ache slightly. He hadn't slept for two nights. The sky was darkening and clouds hovered past his window, adding to his depressed mood.
Giving in the ache in his muscles he flopped down in a cushioned armchair. They had heard nothing, nothing at all, since Snape had last seen Sirius. Dumbledore's reaction still clenched his stomach, and the emotional turmoil he was in made everything even worse.
Remus let his head fall back and closed his eyes for a few moments. His head hurt. He was tired. And he couldn't stop his stomach wrenching at the thought of Sirius and where he was. He needed something to do. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing!
He found himself fingering for his wand but remembered once again that Sirius had it. Had had it, he reminded himself bitterly. He just wished it had brought him more luck. His hands seemed to be restless, he was kneading his fingers now, to keep them occupied. If there just was something he could do.
His right hand strayed away once more as he let his thoughts wander. He was jerked back to reality however as his fingers brushed over something hard and cool. With a frown he dug deeper in his pocket and pulled out a small mirror. For a moment he stared at it.
~*~*~*~*~*~
With a cry of pain Sirius went down, crushing to the floor face first. There was a sickening snap-like noise as a second jolt of fire raced through his leg. Behind him Malfoy screamed another curse, he felt the jet of light rushing past his head, heatening the air around. He heard the Death Eater starting to cry another incantation.
'NO!', his mind screamed and with a last desperate wrench he dragged himself over to THIS spot, concentrated hard, wave the wand and - Apparated.
~*~*~*~*~*~
With a stomach-turning 'thud' Sirius landed at the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Pain was burning through both his leg and arm. A pounding headache prevented him to move his head any further and so he just lay there in the snow and stared.
He had escaped.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out shakily he blankly gazed into the forest, shocked. He really had managed to flee. He had gotten out. He was free. The panic, that had been swelling in his ribcage like a giant balloon and threatened to tear him apart was gone, replaced by an odd warm and light feeling.
'I need to get away.'
The words dimly flashed through his hurting head and it took some time to let them sink in, but slowly his senses came back to him. He couldn't stay here. They'd probably know that he'd try to get as near to Hogwarts as possible. He still wasn't save.
He moved to roll over when a blinding jolt of pain forced him back down to the cold ground. His leg was definitly broken again and his injured arm would make it even for Padfoot impossible to get through the forest and into the castle. For he'd just realised that he'd Apparated to the opposite outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.
'Damn!', he thought angrily. 'Why me? Why now? Why at all?!' Pain and exhaustion had worn on him the last few hellish days and he already felt himself tire. The cold wasn't helping. With great effort he dragged himself over to the nearest tree and collapsed in its cover.
It was hard to keep his eyes open and his mouth was dry. He needed something to drink. He looked at the snow, wondering, but freezing himself by eating snow probably wasn't a very good idea. 'I'll save the option for later.', he thought dryly.
Suddenly he became aware of something hard poking into his side. He twisted slightly to see if it was a root, grunting as the pain sparkled up once more. Frowning he slid his left hand in his pocket - and drew out a small mirror.
~*~*~*~*~*~
A shimmer darted over the smooth surface. Like in trance Remus picked up a quill lying on the nearby table and hastily wrote the password on it. Lines formed onto the shiny plain, forming a single word.
'Help!'
'Padfoot' appeared under the message. His heart jumped into his throat and began thundering loudly. His hand shook as he carefully wrote 'Where are you?' onto the mirror, scribbling his friend's nickname beneath the note. Anxiously he waited for a reply. The seconds were dragging by -
'Opposite end of Forest. Can't move. Hurry, they're coming!'
This was even more unnerving than the first message and suddenly he found himself on his feat and running towards the door. He stopped dead when a thought crossed his mind. Sirius had his wand. Or had had it. He couldn't go out there without wand, when Sirius needed help and they would probably be forced to defend themselves.
Turning on his heel he stormed over to the fireplace, throwing a pinch of glittering powder into the flames.
"Snape, I need you. Now! I've Sirius!"
Then he quickly bent over the mirror, scribbling his reply and the address, hoping desperately that they wouldn't be too late.
'We're coming! Hold on!'
When he turned around Snape was standing in front of him, eyes alert and expression stony. Remus didn't say anything, just grabbed his cloak and nearly flew out of the room. The Potions Master followed immediately.
~*~*~*~*~*~
He was cold. After having received Remus' last note he'd wrapped himself into his cloak and cuddled under the tree, trying to stay warm. He felt awful; so helpless and vulnerable. There was still the fear lurking in the back of his mind, asking what he'd do if Malfoy found him first. He ignored it.
Over and over again did he catch himself falling asleep. He forced his eyes open and concentrated on a bird sitting on a nearby twig. It didn't work. After a while his eyes slid shut again.
Why couldn't he just sleep? He felt so tired and peaceful. With the cold the pain had stopped and he was wonderfully numb. Nothing to feel, nothing to worry about, just sleep and rest . . .
A/N: And? Good, bad, cruel, nice, lame, unbearable? I don't really care what you think, what I care about is HEARING IT FROM YOU! The end is still open and maybe I'll get inspired by the next review telling me to kill Sirius or something. (Who knows how JK got the idea, we wouldn't've thought it possible before, right?) *evil grin*
Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid! (At least not THAT stupid!) But I'd still like to know what you think! See you all next chapter!
lara
Big, BIG THANKS to my (brandnew!) beta Lisande!!!
Sylvia: Thans so much for reviewing (and for congratulating :) )! Don't worry, I don't plan on giving up anytime soon! Especially not with so many nice people reviewing! Well, actually you're right, but there are two reasons why this is all so complicated: First - I didn't plan the story further than chapter six and Second - I'm evil and like to torture Sirius, because I love making it all good later. You know, 'patting him on the head' and so on. ;)
A.Dee: Thanks for reviewing! Not Sirius-friendly? Well, I guess you're right, authors who do such horrible things to their main- and favorite- charakters simply aren't friendly. But I'll make it good, promise!
Someone Reading: Thank you! Joining the circus? Hm, sounds like a good idea to me . . . Anyway, you needn't worry, I've a beta now, so if it's still unbearable to read you can blame her! ;) I'm still here for any flames concering Sirius-torture. The reason for the stone-idea being a bit foggy is that I don't really know what exactly it is either - I already said it, I didn't plan this story very far. (Should start thinking up a good explanation, though, shouldn' I?) 'bout Dumbledore - I just wrote him that way because I don't understand him. That man's a riddle to me! As for the voices - interesting idea indeed . . . Ok, I'll go on torturing Remmy and Siri now. Oh, and thanks so much for the nice song! ;)
noraseyes: Thanks! Hope you like this chapter, too!
Lisande: Thanky muchy for reviewing(y?)! 'cause I wouldn't - ok, maybe . . . Stupid stone, I think that thing knows more about the plot than me! Yeah, I visit the site regulary, the pics are just great!
Nicola: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chapter, too! Read 'Runaway' already? Piece of Sirius-torture even I like! (Though it's my own . . .)
mette: Thank YOU! I'm glad you liked it, but are you so sure, that he's out? *evil grin* But I'll try not to let you wait so long next time!
karno-L: Thanks! I already said it: Are you SURE about Siri being free? *even eviler grin* But the idea with Remus-torture isn't bad, I'll keep it in mind! ;)
Hpfan1928: Thanks for reviewing! Well, if you liked it so far I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, too!
Alright, and here's the fun-part: Chapter 20 - Long Way Home! Enjoy!
Long Way Home
The hallway was dark. Only at the end there was a slight orange shimmer, probably cast by a torch. Padfoot hurried towards it. He knew that he didn't have much time and that he needed to get out as fast as possible.
The floor was wet and slippery, and his leg was killing him. He already felt cold and exhausted, but fear and despair were driving him on. He reached a fork. Skidding to a halt he peered down both ways carefully, ears straining to hear the smallest sound.
Both dark, both cold, both wet, no clue which might lead where to. He gave an inwardly sigh 'Well, you didn't expect the walls to be plastered with signs, did you?', a corner of his mind sneered. He told it to shut up and thought. Then he remembered the bloke that had come to him. Going back to sniff what he smelled like would cost too much time, so he decided to go on the freshest track he could find.
He sniffed his way around a good ten minutes, when he reached a bigger fork. The scents mingled here, leading and coming from all directions. His pulse quickened and he strained his ears while thinking furiously. What should he do now?
Snape. He was most likely to leave the Lair frequently; maybe following his track would get him out. At least he didn't need to worry about finding the scent, he knew exactly what the git smelled like. Nose to the floor and ears perked he worked his way down the hallway.
It wasn't long before he heard voices and footsteps echoing down the hall. Someone was coming towards him. Glancing around quickly he spotted a small niche about ten feet from him. As quietly as he could the black dog crammed himself in the small space and waited.
His heart was pounding in his throat, as if trying to skip out of his mouth. He wondered if the bypassers would hear it. The voices drew nearer. Padfoot closed his eyes, praying that the dark fur would melt into the wall he was pressing up at.
"- so if he's reliable then why is he taking so long? Surely he doesn't spoon-feed Black?"
He would've recognised that sneer everywhere. Lucius Malfoy was striding down the hall, and though he was wearing a mask Padfoot could tell that his face was screwed up in anger. The slightly smaller figure beside him just ducked it's head, seemingly intimidated by the higher ranking Death Eater.
'They're coming for me!', jumped into Padfoot's mind, but though the panic rising in his chest he forced himself to freeze and not to catch their attention. He was lucky. Malfoy, obviously too focused on his anger and the other, scared speechless, walked right past him. Padfoot thanked the gods that the hall was so dark.
When he was sure that they were out of hearing range he hurried down the hallway, ears trying desperately to catch any sound apart from his slightly ragged breath. Just a few minutes now and Malfoy would discover him gone. The Death Eater wasn't stupid, he'd be able to figure that their prisoner couldn't be far.
He scurried down another hall, pressing himself to the wall in the hope that bypassers wouldn't see him immediately. Snape's scent was getting fainter and fainter, drowned by all the other smells layering the ground here. This was a frequently used path.
An echo chimed down the hall and Padfoot knew that they'd just discovered the unconscious Death Eater. Why the hell hadn't he taken his wand? He was so dead.
Suddenly his nose picked a rather new track. It was the Potions Master's and it led into a slightly smaller hall on the right of the main way he was using now. Figuring that this was his only chance he turned the corner just in time to flee Malfoy's eyes as he came racing down the hall.
He followed Snape's path as fast as possible, nose sticking to the ground and heart thundering in his chest. He was dimly aware of the pain rushing through his system and the exhaustion, threatening to take him over.
And suddenly the track was gone. He jumped slightly, fearing that his panic had slipped off his attention. But a few feet back he could still trace Snape's scent and at this point it was suddenly gone. He ran around in a circle for a few minutes, desperately trying to figure out what was happening here.
And then the lingering prickle of magic overwhelmed his sensitive nose. Of course, he'd Apparated from here! Padfoot looked around desperately. He needed a wand to Apparate. He'd come so far!
The voices were back. His heart did a fliflop as he realised that they were searching for him. Over the yells he could hear Malfoy, ordering to block every way out. If he didn't get a wand in the next two minutes his chance would be gone!
Suddenly the world seemed to become much quieter. Padfoot just now realised that he'd been holding his breath and let it out slowly. This was his chance, he knew what to do.
Feeling much calmer suddenly he slowly went back to where the smaller hall met the main, careful not to draw any attention to himself. He ducked low in the shadows and waited. His heart was still pounding furiously and the adrenaline rushing through his veins urged him to move, but he forced himself still, concentrating on his own heartbeat.
In slow motion, as if somebody was playing a film, a Death Eater ran past him at a snake's crawl, wand outstretched and ready to hex. Padfoot pounced.
His jaws clenched around the robed arm, he could feel bones snap under his teeth and a cry of pain wailed in his ears. Paralysed by pain and surprise the Death Eater dropped his wand and just stared. That was what Padfoot had been waiting for.
In the break of a second he transformed back into man and grabbed the fallen wand. Shouts arose from behind him, but he dived back into the smaller hall as fast as he'd jumped out of it. Ignoring the throbbing pain in both his arm and head he raced down the dimly lit hall, panic spurting him on.
Curses and hexes were flying past his ears and a Reductor-Curse missed him by a hair's width. He could practically feel the magic crimping his hair as he flew towards the spot from where Snape had Apparated.
Suddenly a jet of light caught him in the legs, sending searing pain up his body. He stumbled and fell, crashing to the floor face-first.
(A/N: I was tempted to end the chapter here.)
~*~*~*~*~*~
Professor Dumbledore stood behind his desk and let his gaze drift over the school grounds. Hagrid was roaming in the pumpkin patch and the Gryffindor Quidditch team was practising under the watchful eye of Madam Hooch. The sky was stacked with heavy snow clouds, casting dark shadows.
He sighed and turned around to face his pet phoenix, Fawkes. The scarlet and gold bird looked back at him with beady eyes, as if watching it's master disapprovingly. The old wizard sat down in his armchair and regarded the Phoenix with grave expression.
"I couldn't tell them, you know that."
He let out another heavy sigh and let his eyes stray back to the window. Fawkes gave a soft cry and rose in the air. With a few elegant wingflaps he soared over to Dumbledore and landed gracefully on his shoulder. The Headmaster reached up and stroked the sparkly feathers.
"I just hope I wasn't wrong this time."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Remus was pacing his quarters once more. The action was beginning to wear him out and his legs began to ache slightly. He hadn't slept for two nights. The sky was darkening and clouds hovered past his window, adding to his depressed mood.
Giving in the ache in his muscles he flopped down in a cushioned armchair. They had heard nothing, nothing at all, since Snape had last seen Sirius. Dumbledore's reaction still clenched his stomach, and the emotional turmoil he was in made everything even worse.
Remus let his head fall back and closed his eyes for a few moments. His head hurt. He was tired. And he couldn't stop his stomach wrenching at the thought of Sirius and where he was. He needed something to do. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing!
He found himself fingering for his wand but remembered once again that Sirius had it. Had had it, he reminded himself bitterly. He just wished it had brought him more luck. His hands seemed to be restless, he was kneading his fingers now, to keep them occupied. If there just was something he could do.
His right hand strayed away once more as he let his thoughts wander. He was jerked back to reality however as his fingers brushed over something hard and cool. With a frown he dug deeper in his pocket and pulled out a small mirror. For a moment he stared at it.
~*~*~*~*~*~
With a cry of pain Sirius went down, crushing to the floor face first. There was a sickening snap-like noise as a second jolt of fire raced through his leg. Behind him Malfoy screamed another curse, he felt the jet of light rushing past his head, heatening the air around. He heard the Death Eater starting to cry another incantation.
'NO!', his mind screamed and with a last desperate wrench he dragged himself over to THIS spot, concentrated hard, wave the wand and - Apparated.
~*~*~*~*~*~
With a stomach-turning 'thud' Sirius landed at the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Pain was burning through both his leg and arm. A pounding headache prevented him to move his head any further and so he just lay there in the snow and stared.
He had escaped.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out shakily he blankly gazed into the forest, shocked. He really had managed to flee. He had gotten out. He was free. The panic, that had been swelling in his ribcage like a giant balloon and threatened to tear him apart was gone, replaced by an odd warm and light feeling.
'I need to get away.'
The words dimly flashed through his hurting head and it took some time to let them sink in, but slowly his senses came back to him. He couldn't stay here. They'd probably know that he'd try to get as near to Hogwarts as possible. He still wasn't save.
He moved to roll over when a blinding jolt of pain forced him back down to the cold ground. His leg was definitly broken again and his injured arm would make it even for Padfoot impossible to get through the forest and into the castle. For he'd just realised that he'd Apparated to the opposite outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.
'Damn!', he thought angrily. 'Why me? Why now? Why at all?!' Pain and exhaustion had worn on him the last few hellish days and he already felt himself tire. The cold wasn't helping. With great effort he dragged himself over to the nearest tree and collapsed in its cover.
It was hard to keep his eyes open and his mouth was dry. He needed something to drink. He looked at the snow, wondering, but freezing himself by eating snow probably wasn't a very good idea. 'I'll save the option for later.', he thought dryly.
Suddenly he became aware of something hard poking into his side. He twisted slightly to see if it was a root, grunting as the pain sparkled up once more. Frowning he slid his left hand in his pocket - and drew out a small mirror.
~*~*~*~*~*~
A shimmer darted over the smooth surface. Like in trance Remus picked up a quill lying on the nearby table and hastily wrote the password on it. Lines formed onto the shiny plain, forming a single word.
'Help!'
'Padfoot' appeared under the message. His heart jumped into his throat and began thundering loudly. His hand shook as he carefully wrote 'Where are you?' onto the mirror, scribbling his friend's nickname beneath the note. Anxiously he waited for a reply. The seconds were dragging by -
'Opposite end of Forest. Can't move. Hurry, they're coming!'
This was even more unnerving than the first message and suddenly he found himself on his feat and running towards the door. He stopped dead when a thought crossed his mind. Sirius had his wand. Or had had it. He couldn't go out there without wand, when Sirius needed help and they would probably be forced to defend themselves.
Turning on his heel he stormed over to the fireplace, throwing a pinch of glittering powder into the flames.
"Snape, I need you. Now! I've Sirius!"
Then he quickly bent over the mirror, scribbling his reply and the address, hoping desperately that they wouldn't be too late.
'We're coming! Hold on!'
When he turned around Snape was standing in front of him, eyes alert and expression stony. Remus didn't say anything, just grabbed his cloak and nearly flew out of the room. The Potions Master followed immediately.
~*~*~*~*~*~
He was cold. After having received Remus' last note he'd wrapped himself into his cloak and cuddled under the tree, trying to stay warm. He felt awful; so helpless and vulnerable. There was still the fear lurking in the back of his mind, asking what he'd do if Malfoy found him first. He ignored it.
Over and over again did he catch himself falling asleep. He forced his eyes open and concentrated on a bird sitting on a nearby twig. It didn't work. After a while his eyes slid shut again.
Why couldn't he just sleep? He felt so tired and peaceful. With the cold the pain had stopped and he was wonderfully numb. Nothing to feel, nothing to worry about, just sleep and rest . . .
A/N: And? Good, bad, cruel, nice, lame, unbearable? I don't really care what you think, what I care about is HEARING IT FROM YOU! The end is still open and maybe I'll get inspired by the next review telling me to kill Sirius or something. (Who knows how JK got the idea, we wouldn't've thought it possible before, right?) *evil grin*
Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid! (At least not THAT stupid!) But I'd still like to know what you think! See you all next chapter!
lara