Sorry for the long delay. I was knee deep in matters that demanded my attention and so could not focus on the story. But then a few weeks ago my muse sat me down at my computer and said that it was time to get Remus to the hospital wing, the poor dear. I agreed and so I wrote and wrote and wrote and finished this here story. And the people rejoiced.
Although its finished, it is in various stages of editing as I try to fill in holes and smooth over my style. The good news is my wonderful readers will be getting not one, but two chapters a week! Hopefully. I do apologize for the long absence but this story is definitely better for it. I also went back and changed a few things in previous chapters, but they are mainly frivolous and so those of you who have read them, please feel no need to read them again.
Daydreaming: Thanks for the lovely reviews. A note about Harry and Ginny's relationship: I hope you don't mind that there isn't too much H/G, because there isn't going to be much more. They are not so much a couple as they are friends, who are interested in each other. I like to think that they were just beginning their relationship when all this mess starts, so it puts a damper on anything romantic. After all, Harry has a lot more pressing matters on his mind right now, as you will see. Your question about Selene saving Remus should be answered in this chapter, if not let me know.
~*~
The Book of Carmen
Chapter XII: Missing
~*~
Sirius lifted Remus into his arms as if he were a child and was pained at his friend's slight weight.
"You should use magic to transport him to the hospital wing, it would be faster and safer," Will said.
"Go to Dumbledore, and tell him what happened," Sirius said, ignoring Will's comment. "I will take Remus to Pomfrey."
Will threw his hands in the air and complied, knowing it would be useless to argue this point further, "Fine, just be careful and don't jostle him too much."
Sirius glared at Will and left with Remus. Sirius moved as fast as he could through the halls of Hogwarts towards the hospital wing. Along the way he found himself catching his breath so he could listen to Remus'. When he found that his friend was breathing evenly Sirius relaxed, but did not slow his pace. The distance between them and the hospital wing seemed to grow instead of lessen, but the great doors of the wing at last came into view and Sirius exploded through them.
"What is the meaning of this commotion?" Madam Pomfrey asked, coming around the corner. She saw Sirius and then Remus' limp form in his arms and she motioned to a bed, "Put him there."
Sirius complied and laid Remus on the bed. He then stood back and let Poppy Pomfrey tend to Remus. Sirius had always respected Madam Pomfrey and although he didn't want to leave his friend's side, he gave her all the room she needed. Sirius himself had never excelled in the healing arts and was always amazed at the work of physicians. Especially Pomfrey, since she had managed to cure all of his more interesting maladies during his Hogwarts years.
Sirius rubbed his sore arm. His adrenaline rush had died, and his wounded arm was beginning to ache after having carried a full-grown man through the halls of Hogwarts.
"What happened to him?" Pomfrey asked, examining the bruise under Remus' eye.
"I don't know. Is he okay?"
"Okay? He is far from okay, Mr. Black. He'll live if that's what you mean."
As Madam Pomfrey finished wrapping a bandage around Remus' arm Dumbledore entered the room, followed by Harry and Will. Sirius saw that Will stood just behind Harry and put his hand on his godson's shoulders as Harry gasped at the sight of his old professor. "Harry," Sirius said, "Will you please come over here?" Harry complied, his attention fixed on Lupin, and did not see the look that Sirius threw Will.
"What happened to him?" Harry whispered to Sirius, "Was it his transformation?"
Sirius shook his head, "No, I have never seen him like this. I realize that the Book of Carmen was affecting him, but the injuries he has could not have been the result of his transformation alone."
"He's bruised some ribs, broken his left arm, has acquired multitude of cuts and scrapes, and a concussion," Pomfrey said to Dumbledore, but loud enough for all of them to hear. "And he's exhausted. How did he get here?" she added.
"I assume he walked. I doubt he would have Apparated being that injured. Remus is no fool," Sirius said.
"Poppy can you mend his ribs and arm?" Dumbledore asked. Sirius knew that Dumbledore did not doubt her proficiency in healing, but if Remus had been injured by a spell it would be more complicated to heal him then if he had received the injuries through other means. What he was really asking was if someone had intentionally hurt him.
"His ribs and the deeper cuts, yes. His arm, however, will take some time to mend."
"So he was hexed," Will said.
"It appears so," Dumbledore responded.
"By who?" Sirius asked.
"That is a question that demands and answer," Dumbledore said. "Did he say anything, before he lost consciousness?"
"Yes," Sirius said, "He said, 'It's gone.'"
"We can assume that he meant the Book of Carmen. Will, would you pay a visit to the Shrieking Shack and see if you can find the Book?"
Will nodded and turned to leave. "Will," Dumbledore called after him. Will paused and turned, "Be careful. Whoever did this to Remus is still out there." Will nodded and left.
~*~
Remus had no recollection of how he ended up in a bed, but he was damn glad to be in one. He had been awake for about ten minutes, but hadn't opened his eyes, as he tried to piece together the events of the previous night. He knew that he had somehow survived his encounter with Peter, as the many aches and pains that traversed his entire body reminded him. He remembered waking up underneath a pile of wood, and climbing out of the rubble. Remus also remembered that he had not felt the Book of Carmen's presence that morning. At first he had been relieved, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from him both physically and mentally. However, that elation soon turned to dread as he realized that he didn't know where the Book was and that meant- "Peter!" Remus shouted, and sat up quickly, much to the protest of his body. His head spun and his stomach lurched. Someone had placed a cool cloth over his forehead, and it fell across his eyes. He reached to remove it and when he did, he was surprised to see Sirius standing at the foot of his bed.
"Take it easy Remus," Sirius said.
"Thanks for the advice," Remus said laying back down. "How long have I been out?"
"Almost six hours."
Six hours? Remus thought, It felt like six minutes. Out of habit he tried to drape his left arm over his eyes, but it hurt too much to move. He sighed in frustration and laid the right one across his face instead, A lot of help I'm going to be.
"Are you alright? You look horrible," Sirius said.
"What a clever assessment," Remus snapped. He raised his arm a little so that he could see Sirius, who looked a little hurt by Remus' rebuff. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, it's just that so much has happened and I can't seem to get my head around it."
"What did happen?"
"I'm not sure, but," he paused, taking a few moments to sit up again, "Peter was there." Remus looked at Sirius whose eyes darkened at the mention of Peter's name. "He must have broken in while I was transforming. He took the Book and then tried to kill me, and he almost succeeded."
"What stopped him?" Sirius asked, his voice so low that Remus had to strain to hear him.
"I don't remember, I blacked out. When I awoke the Shack was in ruins. Peter was gone, as well as the Book of Carmen. I knew I had to get here, and warn Dumbledore. I think that the Book of Carmen is controlling Peter."
Sirius looked at him curiously.
"Peter confronted me to kill me, I'd stake my life on it," Remus said and then paused at the irony. "Being the coward that he is, he would have wanted to attack and kill me while I was transforming, and would not have been able to defend myself. However, he didn't kill me. Instead he toyed with me and offered me the chance to join him."
"Join him?"
"Join them, more like. There was something in his voice, Sirius, something that made me think that it was not Peter with whom I was speaking."
"The Book of Carmen."
Remus nodded, "It was using Peter to connect with the physical world." Remus' eyes narrowed, "His weak mind would have been easy to influence."
"Why you?"
Remus broke eye contact with Sirius, "Because it sees me as a part of it."
"Because you are werewolf."
Remus nodded. "And because of Selene. It wanted to use me as a means of finding her."
Sirius leaned against the bed, "She's gone."
"Gone? When?"
"Last night. Dumbledore has sent out almost all the owls in the owlery to various people asking for any news. He's even checked Muggle police stations and hospitals. No one has heard anything."
"We will find her."
"Before or after Peter does?" Sirius asked.
"Pettigrew is not in league with the Book of Carmen," another voice said. Sirius and Remus turned and saw Snape enter the room.
"I beg to differ," Remus said lifting his bandaged arm.
"He might have ruffed you up a bit, but he's not responsible for the loss of the Book," Snape said, eyeing Remus' bandages with what looked like glee, or at least satisfaction.
"I know what I saw," Remus said.
"Do you?"
"He stood above me and waved the bloody thing in my face!" Remus yelled, and then leaned back. He was too tired to deal with Snape, "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I came to deliver a message from Dumbledore," Snape said nonchalantly. "It appears that someone witnessed a man running through their yard late last night." Snape pulled out a piece of yellow parchment and read a section from it, "The man was a short and stocky figure with an artificial hand," Snape glanced at Remus and Sirius before continuing, "He seemed to be scared out of his wits. He was yelling that something was chasing him, and that it was going to kill him. I grabbed my wand and headed outside to fend off any intruders, but I didn't see anything. I attempted to follow the man, but he ran into the woods before I could catch him, and with all the strange happenings that have occurred in the past few days, I wasn't about to enter the forest, especially at night. Something really must have spooked him. I thought it best to inform you Albus, since your students will be returning in a few days and I thought you would like to keep an eye out for the loon."
"Who sent that letter?" Sirius asked.
Snape sneered at Sirius, but answered his question, "A local merchant in Hogsmeade. Dumbledore contacted him after receiving the letter and asked him if the man had been carrying anything. The merchant said that he was quite sure that the man had been running with both arms outstretched, and that he hadn't noticed any bags or sacks that could have contained anything."
"So Peter left the Shack without the Book," Remus muttered, "how strange."
"Eloquently put," Snape said sarcastically.
"Are you done here?" Sirius snapped.
Snape started to say something then thought the better of it. Instead he folded up the letter and placed it back in his pocket, "Dumbledore would like to talk to you Sirius. I believe he has some idea about how to catch your wayward wife. A waste of time if you ask me, its obvious she's not coming back."
Remus noticed that Sirius had gripped the bed rail, and his fingers were turning white.
"You've delivered your message Severus. You can tell Dumbledore that Sirius will meet with him shortly."
"I don't take orders from werewolves Lupin. Besides, I'm enjoying this," Snape said and then turned his attention to Sirius, "So how does it feel? Being betrayed twice, once by a close friend and once by your wife. Not that great a judge of character are you?"
If it was possible Sirius' grip tightened. Remus knew if he didn't do something quick Sirius would attack Snape. Mustering all the speed he could, Remus reached into Sirius' robes and pulled out his wand and then pointed the weapon at Snape. The quick action surprised both Sirius and Snape, "Would you be so kind as to deliver our message to Dumbledore," Remus said with exaggerated kindness, "before I decide that you look better as a Puffskein. And I must say that I'm not feeling very well so there's no telling what may happen."
Snape's eyes flamed at Remus, but the wand proved to be the greater threat. Without another word, Snape left. Remus handed Sirius back his wand and then sagged back into the bed.
"A Puffskein?" Sirius asked, grinning.
Remus looked up at his friend and cocked an eyebrow.
Sirius laughed, "How hard did you hit your head?"
"Pretty hard," Remus admitted.
"You should get some rest," Sirius said. Remus nodded. Sleep sounded good to him at the moment, and perhaps his subconscious could make some sense out of the events that had transpired. "I'll tell Dumbledore that you are okay," Sirius said. Remus flashed him a reassuring smile and then Sirius left the room, shutting the large doors behind him. He stood silent outside of the doors for a while longer, as still as the knights in armor that surrounded him. That was close, Sirius thought, too close. He had come very close to losing another friend. "Thank you," he whispered, hoping that God or whatever force that was watching over them understood how much he meant it.
Remus watched Sirius leave and then watched as Madame Pomfrey approached him with a rather foul smelling liquid. "Drink this," she said. "It will help you sleep."
Remus pushed the glass away, "Thanks Poppy, but I don't think I'll need any aid in that matter."
"Drink it," she said. "Don't make me tie you to the bed and pour it down your gullet."
Remus laughed, but Poppy didn't. Remus got the distinct impression she wasn't kidding. He held his hands up, "Alright, you win." He took the glass and drank the liquid. Although it was foul going down, once it finally hit his stomach it sent warm waves throughout his body. Remus felt his body relax and fell asleep so quickly that he dropped the glass.
~*~
Thanks for reading!
As always, please review.
Puffskein: Spherical in shape and covered in soft, custard-coloured fur, it is a docile creature that has no objection to being cuddled or thrown about. The Puffskein is a scavenger that will eat anything from leftovers to spiders, but it has a particular preference for sticking its tongue up the nose of sleeping wizards and eating their bogies. (For those of you who don't have your Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book handy.)