Not All Is As It Seems

by kamahpfan

CURRENTLY ON HOLD! PREOOTP! While at the Dursley's, Harry get's an unexpected visitor. But what are his intentions? And who is this strange wizard in Diagon Alley? New powers, Non-Humans, and unexpected turning of events! Some PG-13

23. A Shifty Ally

To All Readers!!! This is the last segment that I have set on my hard drive!! From now on, all my chapters will be posted when I have enough new material typed up, and that can be anywhere between a week, to a couple of months. Sorry that I won't be updating so quickly anymore, but this is all I have to date. I don't know when the next chapter will be posted, but I'll try to keep them the same length as they are now.

That being said, the chapters will most likely be some time between postings. I hope you all keep reading, even when you don't get new stuff every day or week.

Here's the last pre-done piece!!!!

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Hank's eyes swept over the leaves, twigs and dirt, trying to spot that small shaft of wood that was Harry's wand, as he shifted his location, trying to cover the area he'd felt it's presence.

As soon as he got down there, he knew that Wolfgang was most defiantly not on the grounds, but it didn't stop Hank from trying to find his charges weapon. Hank's stomach clenched as he thought of what the Kanite might possibly be doing to Harry, feeling guilt rise in his chest as he did so. He'd failed to keep Harry from harm yet again. His constant failure in the duty was slowly cutting away at him, and he knew it.

"I'll make it up to you somehow Harry," Hank muttered, trying to control the jumble of emotions that had risen within him. "I swear I will…"

"That'd be a little hard considering you've no idea where he even is?"

Hank swivelled around, startled by the unexpected voice. His surprised expression quickly melted into a scowl of pure disgust, as his eyes recognised the red haired woman leaning on a nearby tree, twirling a familiar piece of wood in her nimble fingers, as she gazed at him with something resembling a pleasant expression.

"Elise Macarthur," Hank said at length, not bothering to hide the venom in his voice as he stared coldly into her ice blue eyes. "How nice to see you again, considering how we last parted company."

Elise's face fell considerably, as though she was actually insulted by Hank's shortness, but he paid it no mind. After what she'd done, he'd hold her in more contempt than her brother.

"Or maybe I should call you Alex Patterson? That is, after all, how you first introduced yourself to me, isn't it?"

"Speak for yourself, Gregory" Elise shot back, though she sounded far from angry… "Listen Hank," Elise started again, head bowed as she stood straighter. "I didn't come here to dredge up the past, OK? If I recall, you're hunting for a certain Wizard, aren't you?"

"Correction," Hank snapped. "I was looking for that," he pointed at the wand clutched in Elise's fingers. "I already know your brother is nowhere near here, and I have no way of finding him. Your presence is unnecessary."

"You hold no interest in your charges current situation?" Elise asked, seeming surprised at his reaction. "You don't want to know what my brother is intending to do?"

"I already know what he's going to do!" Hank shouted, taking two strides forward, bringing him mere feet away from the Kanite. Elise stood stock still at Hank's approach, only just flinching as he halted, and trying to control her heightened breathing. She might be a Kanite, but the Feline before her still frightened her when he was angered … and he knew it. "I already know that he's going to try and kill Harry, but I can do nothing to stop him!"

Elise fixed Hank with a confused expression, not completely understanding what he'd just said. "You do know what Harry is supposed to be, don't you?"

"Of course I know," Hank growled, scowling heavily at her.

"Then why are you worried about him dieing? You know that if it's true, he won't … but if he does, it'll only state that he wasn't as important as everyone thought he was…" Elise stated simply, as though she was ordering lunch. "My brother is just putting the rumour to test? You'll be able to pick him up when he's finished with him."

Hank raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. "Just like that?" he remarked. "Wolfgang will dump him somewhere and I can just go and fetch him?"

Elise nodded. "Uh huh. He'll need repairing of course, but we all know you'll do that in a heartbeat," she grinned, grimacing uncomfortably when Hank's face remained stony. Taking a settling breath, she held out Harry's wand stiffly. "Here," she muttered uncomfortably.

Hank reached out and took the wand from her fingers, feeling his emotions soften as he continued to make her uncomfortable. "Thank-you," he responded politely. "Where is Harry to be returned, and when?"

Elise looked up at Hank, feeling some of the tension drift away as his voice and expression softened slightly. "I think you already know where," she stated softly, knowing how much her brother liked to remind the Feline of that agonizing blemish in his past … and her part in it. "It shouldn't be more that another couple of hours…"

Hank nodded, knowing that Wolfgang would want him to go there again. He angled his head as he surveyed the Kanite in front of him, curiosity peaked. "Are you supposed to be here?" he asked, truly wondering if she was here on orders, or of her own will.

Elise grimaced slightly. "Um … sort of," she answered. When Hank raised his eyebrows, she sighed and elaborated. "I was only supposed to deliver the Werewolf and go back again. I wasn't supposed to tell you what Wolfgang had planned to do with the boy or anything…"

"Then why did you?" Hank countered. "You risk your standing with the Clan by disobeying a request from someone like your brother." After a short pause, Hank added, "And don't even bother thinking that it will change anything, if you start doing me favours. You know as well as I do, that it's impossible…"

"It wasn't all my fault you know!" Elise snapped suddenly, though her voice and features displayed no anger or resentment. "There's two sides to a coin Hank … You never told me either…" she finished softly, looking at the ground.

Hank sighed and also looked at his feet, but nodded non the less. "I know." He glanced up again, his previous anger fading considerably as he stared at the Kanite. He knew that what they'd done so many years ago was unforgivable, in the eyes of their Clans … which was the reason they both swore to never reveal that secret. If anyone found out … it would mean exile…

"Listen Elise," Hank started, taking a small step forward. "I know that you're different from most Kanite's … That your actions while with your Clan – your brother particularly – is mostly a farce … But I can't ignore that you do follow their orders, and that conflicts with everything I've fought for, gained and lost over the centuries."

Elise nodded, trying to halt the emotion rising in her chest at Hank's words. She understood what he was saying … her view was almost identical about him…

"I understand, Hank," she replied quietly. "And although I don't like the majority of what my brother does … he's still my brother, and I won't betray him for anything. Not even for you…"

"Even though my like towards your brother is less than desirable, Elise, I would never ask that of you," said Hank gently. "You mightn't agree with everything he does … but you still care for him, just as he does you, in his own twisted way."

Hank smiled as Elise chuckled lightly at his remark. He had every reason to hate her, but he could never manage to stay that way. She was definitely different than most other Kanite's he'd met…

"I'd better go, before Wolfgang gets any bad ideas," said Elise, appearing sullen at the thought. Hank nodded in assent, giving her a small smile. "And I'm sorry about the way your Werewolf got here … but I had to make it look – "

Hank held up a hand, silencing her apology. "I understand," he assured softly. "You seem to be in a similar situation to a colleague of mine … You'll understand that I can't tell you who it is, of course?" he added, mocking complete seriousness.

"Of course," Elise remarked, mimicking Hank's serious gaze flawlessly. "Don't forget – Harry should be there in a couple of hours … no doubt needing a major repair job, but at least he'll be alive…"

Hank nodded and took a step away from her, about to turn and leave, when he felt Elise's hand grasp his arm, stopping him from leaving. He turned back to face her, curious at what else she might want, when she suddenly stood on her toes and tenderly touched her lips to his … barely brushing against the other … Almost instantly, Elise stepped away and vanished in a swirl of black light, leaving a thunderstruck Hank, standing alone in the shrubbery.

He stood there, frozen with the sheer unexpectedness of the gesture, but couldn't stop the small smile from gracing his features, once the initial shock had dissipated. For a moment, Hank found himself wishing that he'd met Elise at a different time … or more frequently, that they'd never found out the others true self. Heaving a heavy sigh, Hank shook his head, banishing the thoughts from his mind. The very thought was the worst taboo…

The absent-minded twirling of Harry's wand in his fingers, quickly brought Hank back to the here and now, reminding him of what Elise had originally defied her brother for. Sighing again, he turned and started back toward Hogwarts, still fearing the condition he would find Harry in, but at least knowing he'd be returned alive. ……

Ron was at the end of his rope. Helplessly, he continued to sit by Ginny, as she sobbed silently on his shoulder, his arm draped over her shoulder while her arms clung to his middle. He hadn't gotten one word out of her since he'd rushed into her room, only to see her a shadow of her former self. At the sound of his voice, she seemed to react, but all he could manage was to gently coax her to lean on him.

Fighting back his own tears at the sight of Ginny's anguish, Ron decided one last time to try and coax some sort of rational conversation from her.

"Ginny?" he whispered, bending his head to her ear. "Come on Ginny, say something please?!!" Ron draw in a deep, shuddering breath and clung to his sister more tightly, resting his cheek against the top of her fiery locks. "Say anything…?" he pleaded, fighting to control his rapidly failing resolve.

At still no response from Ginny, Ron couldn't hold back his tears any longer, sobbing quietly as he leant up against the headboard, gently shifting Ginny to rest against his chest as he did so. Through his anguish though, Ron couldn't help but wonder what on earth could cause such a drastic change within his sister. It was obviously unpleasant…

At some point during his musings, he must've dozed off, for Ron was suddenly pulled from an uneasy slumber by a soft knock at Ginny's door. Looking down, Ron saw that Ginny had fallen asleep beside him, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder with an arm draped over him. Not wanting to wake her when she seemed at rest, Ron carefully drew his wand and waved it at the door, opening it to reveal his visitor.

"Hello Ronald," said Hank quietly, spotting Ginny's sleeping form. "May I come in?"

"Course you can," Ron answered, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. What had happened now? Ron thought sourly, wondering why Hank had come to see him and Ginny.

"When did she fall asleep?" Hank asked, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him. "She's sleeping soundly, I hope?"

Ron shook his head. "No, no problems at all. Why? And she didn't fall asleep that long ago I don't think…?"

Hank sighed and gazed down at Ginny sadly. "She seems to see these visions in her dreams," he explained softly, not wanting to wake the girl from some much needed sleep. "Well … I came in here originally to tell Ginny that Harry's going to be fine, so, could you relay the message when she wakes please?"

Ron's eyes widened immediately. "Whoa! What do you mean Harry's going to be fine? There's nothing wrong with him! What's happened?!!"

"Shhh!" Hank motioned for Ron to keep his voice down, as Ginny stirred restlessly against him, disturbed by the sudden increase of noise. "And as to your questions … I think I'll let Miss Granger fill in that duty," Hank remarked dryly. "Just tell her he'll be OK, and he should be here in only a couple of hours… all right?" Hank repeated the request again, gesturing at Ginny. Seeing Ron's scowl at his not informing him of anything, Hank tried a subtly different approach. "Listen Ron, I'm not going to tell you what's happened, because it's only for Ginny to tell you, if she chooses to do so. Would you really want her to wake up only to have us talking about something that's causing her a great deal of torment? I think not…"

Though scowling, Ron took one glance at Ginny, and it dissolved into sadness and worry. Sighing, he nodded while gently hooking some stray locks of hair behind her ear. "OK," he said quietly, returning his eyes to Hank. "I'll tell her when she wakes up."

Hank smiled gratefully and stood up again, making for the door. "Thank you," he replied, opening the door wide. "Please remember to ask Hermione about what Ginny's dreams were about, Ron?" Hank said firmly, starting to close the door as he walked out into the hallway. "Don't remind her of what she had to see…"

Ron nodded obediently, and Hank nodded, shutting the door firmly, his light footsteps slapping against the floor on his way back to the Main Ward.

Sighing softly again, Ron turned his attentions back to Ginny, who still rested comfortably against him, unaware of the discussion that had just transpired. Shifting slightly, Ron gently kissed Ginny on her forehead, before settling back down again, prepared to wait for his sister to wake before doing anything else.

"What did you see…?" he whispered despairingly, feeling his emotions swell again at the thought. Ron shut his eyes, knowing that he wouldn't get an answer, and waited patiently for Ginny to rise from her slumber……

"That was faster than I expected?" Dumbledore stated after getting over the initial shock of Hank Orbing into the Ward much earlier than expected. "I expected you to take at least twice as long to find a small wand in a rather broad area?"

Hank cleared his throat quietly, before responding to the Headmaster's query. "How it took me so little time to find Harry's wand is of little importance," he said forcefully, sparking everybody's curiosity. "What is important, is that while searching I've figured out what Wolfgang would most likely do in this situation…"

"And how – pray tell – did you arrive at such a sudden inspiration?" Snape remarked dryly, though he'd noticeably narrowed his eyes at the Feline.

"Why, centuries of trying to outdo and outwit him at every chance possible did, of course," Hank answered simply, stepping up to Dumbledore and handing him Harry's wand.

Snape's gaze darkened considerably at Hank's calm response, seeming to do nothing but aggravate the Potions Master even more. "You can't expect us to believe that you had a miraculous epiphany while wandering around in the shrubbery, do you?"

Hank opened his mouth, ready to shoot a retort at the Slytherin, but was cut off by Dumbledore's strong voice…

"If we could stop the hows and get to what Hank has discovered please?"

"Certainly, Albus," Hank answered quickly, as though eager to leave the topic, while Snape just sent dark glowers in his direction from then on. "My revelation isn't really that surprising," Hank started, remaining standing when all the others had taken a seat.

"Considering how much history Wolfgang and I have together, he knows things about me that no one else does. He likes to torment me with my failures throughout the passage of time, and so whenever a meeting is required, he'll tell me to go to one of these areas, knowing how painful the memories the location inspires are for me. I believe that he will return Harry to us, at one of these locations, once he's finished his fun with him…"

"Fun?" said Snape, after an awkward pause, looking a little wary by the once meaningless word.

Hank nodded grimly. "That's right Severus … fun. At least, his version of it. I don't believe that he'll kill Harry, for much the same reason that he let Remus live, but – "

"But Ginny saw him get impaled Hank!" Hermione exclaimed, not hiding her appalled feelings that Hank could be discussing this so calmly. "You can't call that not trying to kill him?"

"I didn't say that Wolfgang wasn't trying to kill Harry," Hank countered firmly. "I just said that I believe he won't."

Hermione frowned at Hank, more with a growing suspicion than with any irritation, and sat up a little straighter in her chair. "Not to sound cold or anything, but no one can live through the injuries Ginny described in her dream. How can you say Harry will be alive after hearing that?"

Hank almost seemed to flounder at the question, but his awkwardness only lasted the briefest moment before he answered smoothly, "You forget that we have the ability to heal, Hermione. While you might think it strange for someone like Wolfgang to heal Harry … it's purposes would not be to make him feel better. I predict that Wolfgang will beat Harry to within an inch of his life, before healing him enough to live through a little more, repeating the process for as long as he finds fun in Harry's agony. A potentially life threatening blow, can be healed minutely, therefore letting the subject live for a while longer…" Hank shook his head slowly, a ghost of a smile flitting across his lips. "Strange how healing can be used as a torture…"

"But, wouldn't continuously healing Harry wear him out?" Hermione put forward, trying vainly to push the images of Harry being tortured from her mind. "I mean, I'm just going by your example. Healing tends to take a toll on you, and you get tired from it rather quickly…"

Hank shook his head, grimacing faintly. "No. It won't affect Wolfgang as it does me, because he's much older than I am. He's much more powerful than me, so something like healing won't exhaust him as quickly. The fact that he's more proficient at it doesn't hurt either…"

"Proficient?" said Hermione, confused.

"Uh huh," Hank nodded. "He could heal someone with AIDS if he wanted … but he usually doesn't. He leaves humans to deal with their own frailties."

"What? Our own … but, can't you catch things like that as well?" Hermione replied bemusedly, while Snape seemed completely at a loss as to what Hank had just referred to.

"Oh no," Hank answered quickly. "All Morphie are immune to all forms of disease, virus or poison, magical or not."

Hermione's face dawned with a sudden comprehension. "So that's why you weren't hurt by the Nundu's breath!" she exclaimed, as though she should have realized this from the start.

Hank shook his head at her amusedly, before turning to Dumbledore and growing serious again.

"It shouldn't be any more than another couple of hours, before Harry will be left at one of a few locations. I'm going to go and tell Ginny the best part of the news … hopefully it'll make her feel better…"

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "Hopefully she'll be in a better state by now, then when we left, seeing how Mr Weasley is with her. If you say the right thing though, I'm sure she'll recover admirably."

Hank nodded and turned toward the back rooms, striding purposefully to the door before disappearing through it.

"He's hiding something, Albus," Snape said quietly, once he was sure Hank couldn't hear him. "I can't believe he theorized all of this while searching for that." Snape pointed at Harry's wand, still clasped in Dumbledore's frail hand.

"I'd have to agree with you Severus," said Dumbledore, glancing at the door. "But if he is, then he obviously has his reasons. We're all entitled to our secrets Severus, and he is no different."

"Um, Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione spoke up hesitantly.

"Yes Miss Granger?" Dumbledore replied, turning to face her, ignoring the scowl on Snape's face at being interrupted.

"I was just wondering, but … when Hank says that Wolfgang is more powerful than he is, what exactly does he mean? And what about his age? How old is he really? How does his age influence his strength? What does – "

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore interrupted, beard twitching as he fought to keep a neutral expression. "As knowledgeable about Morphie in general that I am, I am not the person to ask when it comes to subjects such as these. And anything that you wish to know about Hank will have to be brought to him in person. I know very little about his history, and what I do know will only relate to the last hundred or so years of his life."

"Well is it true that he looked the same age when you first met him?" she shot out just as quickly, brimming with curiosity.

Dumbledore chuckled lightly, but still answered. "Yes, Miss Granger. Hank does indeed look almost exactly the same as when I first met him, and I still know very little about him personally. Now … any more you wish to know on the subject will have to be strictly for Hank to answer if he wishes to do so. Don't try to force anything out of him if he doesn't wish to reveal it."

Hermione nodded, and was about to ask another question, when Hank suddenly emerged from the back rooms, smiling softly about something.

"All went well, I presume?" Dumbledore asked once Hank had made his way over to him.

"She wasn't awake," Hank answered. "She was sleeping on Ron's shoulder, so I asked if he could tell her the good news when she woke up."

"How on earth could you call it Good News Hank?" Snape drawled. "Judging from past experiences, the boy will come back half dead."

"I told Ron that Harry was fine, and he'll relay that to his sister. It makes it good, because then she doesn't have to believe he's going to be in the condition she saw him in, during her dream. I'll heal him before either she, or Ron come out here to see him."

"But that's lying to them," Hermione stated, staring up at Hank.

"Sometimes lying is better than the truth. What they don't know, won't torment them," Hank shrugged, gazing down at Hermione sternly. "Don't forget … you lied for Harry, about Remus. You can't tell me that it wasn't for a good reason, after all, you thought he was dead? There was no proof that either you nor Harry was there when it happened, so you weren't about to turn him over for murder, even though it was unintentional."

Hermione shut her mouth, halting the intended retort prematurely, and meekly lowered her gaze to the floor, knowing that what Hank had said was very close to the truth.

"Don't be ashamed of it though, Hermione," Hank continued gently. "It's reassuring to me that Harry has such faithful and reliable friends. It means I don't have to be worried about him twenty-four-seven." ………

Vixsy cringed almost the instant she arrived back at the shack Wolfgang had the Potter boy at, unable to block out the sound of the lad screaming at the top of his lungs while her brother performed some form of unspeakable horror on him. She could already visualize what the child could look like, knowing her brother's tastes when it came to such atrocities. She could picture a gleeful grin on his muzzle as he cut and beat the boy, revelling in his agony.

She called to her brother mentally as soon as she arrived, not wanting to witness her brother's favourite hobby, and informed him of her arrival and that all had gone to plan. At first he'd asked what had taken her so long, but she'd convinced him that she only went to make sure her companion at the school hadn't missed her presence.

Vixsy flinched again, as another, sickeningly intense scream, pierced the air. She shook her head, seeing it pointless to torture the boy to such an extent. A couple of minutes with her brother would prove if Potter was what they thought or not, so taking hours with him was unnecessary.

Through the anguished cries of the boy, Vixsy's sensitive ears picked up on her brother's amused laughter, obviously enjoying his plaything. She shuddered again, oblivious as to how her brother could take such enjoyment from beating on a child. Adults she could handle, and saw little problems with the same methods on them. They were, after all, able to handle treatment of this type with little problems, so long as they had a healer nearby. But to do it to a child seemed to strike a hidden nerve within her. Even after centuries, she still couldn't watch her brother's handiwork while it was directed at a child.

Silently, Vixsy stood by the door, vainly trying to block out the sounds from within the shack, while she kept a lookout for anything unwelcome. A harsh wind had begun, rippling through her fiery fur, telling her age old senses that a storm was building……

"Come on boy,… Beg for mercy…"

Harry heard a growling voice speaking to him, echoing through the haze of agony that was clouding his mind, making his thoughts sluggish. The slightest movement sent flashes of pain through him, making him wonder what exactly had been done to him. His body had gone reasonably numb a while ago, so he couldn't even guess at the injuries he might have.

As another sharp pain coursed through him, Harry wished for death. It would be the sweetest release at the moment … but his foggy mind had already figured out that it wasn't going to happen. He knew enough to know that he should have died already with what had been done to him … yet he was still alive, and conscious to boot.

A light glowing appeared before his eyes, and for the briefest moment Harry thought his wish had come true, that he'd finally died … but he suddenly found his mind clearing, resulting in the pain intensifying ten fold as the fog left his senses.

After his vision cleared, Harry saw a large clawed hand hovering over his head, the light fading as the hand was removed. Too weak to move his head, Harry stared at the ground in front of him, as he lay on his side, feeling light headed as he could clearly see the bloodstains on the ground, and even some on the wall.

Dimly, Harry heard Wolfgang's guttural voice calling someone from outside. A door opened, then closed quietly, another presence now here to witness his agony. Harry coughed, the convulsions sending a fresh bout of pain through him, but he didn't care any more. The fact that he could taste blood in his mouth afterward stole even more of Harry's thin resolve.

"Time for the final test, boy," Wolfgang said calmly, his voice no longer coming from a distance. "You've been a real sport, but all games must come to an end eventually…"

Gritting his teeth against the searing agony it caused him, Harry slowly moved himself, shifting enough that his own weight carried him onto his back.

Vision starting to blur again, Harry saw both Wolfgang and Vixsy hovering over him, a glint of metal shining in the wolf's massive hand……

Vixsy felt her breath catch in her throat as her yellow eyes fell on the boy, laying limp and defeated on the ground before her. She could see the bruises, gashes and broken bones that he'd acquired while under her brother's supervision, and it made her want to turn away. It was clear to her that the boy should have died four times over … the extra torture was unnecessary.

Steeling a glance at Wolfgang, she saw him materialize his favourite weapon … a broadsword, while wearing a manic grin on his face. Shaking her head mentally, she returned her gaze to the boy, who surprisingly had gathered the strength to roll onto his back, now gazing up at them through half glazed eyes.

Privately, Vixsy marvelled at his determination. Anyone else would have long passed out by now, yet he still mustered the will to face his captors in the eye. She saw his eyes flicker, and noticed that her brother had shifted his position, now standing beside the boy, his sword now positioned with the blade downward … stationed over the boy's chest.

Vixsy held her breath, noting the cruel acceptance on the boys face as Wolfgang raised the weapon with both hands, and felt a jolt of foreboding when the blade was thrust downward, lightning fast, piercing the soft flesh with ages old precision. His body convulsed violently at the deadly penetration, a heavy stream of red issuing from the edges of the wound, surrounding the blade as it soaked into the robes around it……

"Why do you worry about Harry so much, Hank?" Hermione asked after they all sat for some time in silence. "I mean – I know that you like him and all that, but I seem to remember you saying that you were Honour Bound to protect him? Is there a specific reason for it?"

Hank's eyes glazed over for a moment, as Hermione's words hit home. She immediately realized that there was a reason behind Hank's extreme protectiveness and different behaviour where Harry was concerned … and judging by the look on his face, it wasn't a subject he was willing to talk about in a hurry.

"Yes, Hermione … There is a reason behind my duty to protect Harry," said Hank quietly, studying the floor of the Ward avidly. "And you're quite correct in thinking that it's a subject that I do not wish to touch on at present."

"I'm sorry," Hermione apologized quickly. "I shouldn't have asked. I was just being nosey…"

"No harm done," Hank replied, smiling reassuringly. "You didn't know at the time, so there's nothing to be sorry for."

"You can't deny that you treat him differently than all the other students though, Hank," Severus stated bluntly. "Between you and Lupin, I don't know why the boy listens to any of us? You two let him get away with bloody murder most of the time…"

Hank raised an eyebrow amusedly, as did Dumbledore. Unable to resist, Hank leant forward and rested his elbows on his knees, and fixed Snape with a truly withering glare.

"Well unless you've had your head buried in a cauldron all year, Severus … you'd have noticed that he doesn't listen to anything we tell him, and that he actually did get away with murder … even though the suspected deceased wasn't actually dead…"

Snape glowered at him, ignoring the amused chuckling from Dumbledore and the small grin on Hank's olive features. "You know what I mean," he growled darkly. "You don't treat him as a student, even when he's in class. With the way you behave around him, I'm surprised he'd even consider you an authoritive figure, let alone his Professor."

Hank's smirk dissolved into a scowl almost instantly, surprisingly succeeding in making the Potion's Master shift uncomfortably. "And I suppose you think treating him like dirt is the proper way to prove superiority?"

"I don't treat him like "dirt" as you so delicately call it," Snape retorted, regaining his arrogant posture and demeanour. "I treat him as every other student should be treated, and he is. I give him no special leniency or cut him any slack…"

"So, you treat your precious Slytherins in the same manner as everyone else do you?" Hank countered dryly, knowing the answer to the statement.

Snape seemed to ponder over the query, and shot a brief glance in Hermione's direction, before leaning forward and speaking rather stiffly.

"You know as well as I do, that there are certain liabilities amongst my students, Hank, and that appearances must be upheld…?"

"I know that," Hank laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "I just thought I'd put you on the spot. Learn to have a sense of humour, Severus … believe me, it does wonders…"

"I struggle to find what about the current situation you find funny, O'Fallen?" Snape snarled, his black eyes flashing dangerously under his heavy brow.

Hank threw his hands into the air in exasperation. "You really are a slow learner, aren't you?" he remarked, shaking his head. "You're being too serious, Severus. I know that the situation we're in at the moment is no laughing matter, but without making fun of something so damn depressing,… well … we'd all end up like you."

At this, Hermione couldn't help but be overcome by a sudden fit of the giggles, earning a dark glower from Snape, and a broad smile from Hank. Snape's glare deepened, only making Hermione's giggling fit more intense than before … so much so that she had to stand from her seat and head toward the wall in an attempt to calm herself down.

"I still fail to see your so called point," Snape spat angrily, rolling his eyes when Hermione's giggling redoubled at the sound of his voice. "The matter at hand is far from humorous."

Hank shook his head, grinning as Hermione continued to try and calm down, but he started when a weak voice called out and said, "Hank … How about you try a more "practical" means to teach Severus to lighten up?"

Initially overjoyed at hearing Remus's voice, Hank took one look at his friends face to know what he was talking about. Grinning evilly, he turned back to face Snape.

"Forgive me Severus, but I do this at the request of a sick man…"

Before Snape could even fix Hank with a perplexed expression, Hank waved his hand at the Potions Master, making him vanish in a flash of white light … and in his seat, was a rather adorable looking Labrador puppy, doing it's best to glare up at the CoMC teacher with undisguised loathing.

Hermione had just regained a small amount of control again, and was making her way back over to her seat, when she caught sight of Snape's new wardrobe. She blinked, paused a moment, and once again gave way to a renewed fit of laughter, resuming her position on the other side of the wall.

"There you are Severus!" Hank laughed, waving a hand toward Hermione. "Miss Granger's got the idea!"

Everyone started laughing again as Severus bared his tiny teeth and attempted to bark at them all, only succeeding in making them laugh harder when he let out shrill yelping.

"Awww," said Hank, pouting at Snape. "Is the little puppy upset? Would you like a playmate?"

"Hank…" Dumbledore spoke up, smiling lightly though a hint of warning was detected in his voice. Hank glanced over at him mischievously, but he ignored the slight shake of the head Dumbledore directed toward him, and grinned at Remus's weak goading.

Snape growled at Hank, who grinned and said, "Only too happy to oblige…"

The next instant, Hank had vanished in a sharp flash of light, and in his place was Mr Tinkle the Tabby cat. Without pausing to readjust to his new positioning, Hank leapt forward and playfully pounced on Snape's back, before springing away from him again and spinning to face him, ready for the next opportunity.

Snape was yapping incessantly at him, much to the delight of Remus and Hermione, while Dumbledore merely shook his head amusedly at them both, watching the mock battle with interest.

"Will he ever grow up, Albus?" Poppy murmured in Dumbledore's ear, trying to ignore Snape's incessant yapping.

Dumbledore chuckled as Hank lightly swatted Snape on the tip of the nose. "I hope not…" ……

Ron grinned lightly as he heard echoes of laughter drifting down from the Main Ward. Briefly, he considered leaving Ginny to rest, but as he went to gently shift her, she stirred, so he stayed where he was, letting Ginny settle back onto his shoulder.

Ron was befuddled when he heard some barking in the Ward, and even more confused when he heard a cat hissing loudly not long afterwards. He wondered if Sirius was up and about then, and maybe he'd gotten into a fight with Mrs Norris? Ron shook his head, grinning. No, the student body wouldn't be that lucky.

Suddenly, Ron felt Ginny begin to stir … but when he looked down at her, she was still asleep, but he could clearly see her sleep wasn't peaceful any longer. She began to whimper softly, her face twisting in some unknown fear, and her grip around him tightened.

A twinge of panic and unease crept down Ron's throat, as Ginny's reaction's to whatever was troubling her became more severe. She was turning her head, almost as if she was averting her eyes from something, and her whimpering became more insistent.

"Ginny?" said Ron, gently shaking her shoulder, hoping to wake her up. "Come on Gin, wake up."

She only clutched onto him tighter and mumbled something incoherently into his shoulder, features fixed in a mask of fear. Feeling his unease grow, Ron shook Ginny again, harder than before.

"Harry?" she moaned, barely audible.

Ron frowned, confused at first, though soon becoming worried as Ginny seemed to grow more frightened.

"Ginny, wake up!" he said firmly, shaking her again as he half sat up. "Come on!"

Ron's panic grew steadily as Ginny latched onto his robes, stopping him from moving away even further, but he could see that she'd begun to shake as well. Gently, he pried the hand from his robe and enclosed it with his own, flinching slightly with the unexpected strength behind it.

"Harry!" she said again, more urgent than before, tossing her head to the side and grimacing. "No!"

Ron felt as though a vise was clamping around his chest, making his breathing laboured as he watched Ginny's turmoil increase in intensity. Her free hand would swat at something invisible, trying to push something away or trying to hit something. The grip the she currently had on his hand was near bone crushing, but nothing would make Ron break the hold he had on her.

"Ginny!" he hissed, his panic edging into his voice as he reached forward and tapped Ginny on the cheek sharply. "Come on, please wake up!"

Ron almost cried out when Ginny's grip suddenly grew tighter, but the next moment he was startled beyond speech when Ginny suddenly sat bolt upright, her eyes wide and darting everywhere. She was trembling and her breathing was heavy, her long fringe damp and clinging to her forehead.

"Ginny!" Ron breathed, an immense sense of relief filling him, only to be replaced with concern as he saw the unbridled fear and sadness in his sister's eyes. Hesitantly, Ron raised his hand and rested it on Ginny's shoulder, making her jump at least six inches off the mattress and yelp in surprise.

"Ron?" she gasped, trying her best to calm down, but not doing a very good job. "What are you doing here?"

At first, Ron felt a little put out. Why wouldn't he be here, after all? But then he remembered that she was most likely a little confused at the moment, and let it slip. He opened his mouth, about to tell her that he'd been worried about her, after what Dumbledore had said in the Ward, but then remembered what Hank had told him about not reminding her about her dreams … so, after earning a confused look from Ginny while he was contemplating on what to say, he decided to tell her what Hank had asked him to.

"I came in to see you, but you were still asleep. Hank told me to tell you that Harry was fine and he should be back in … the next half an hour or so," he stated after glancing at his watch.

Ginny blinked, expressionless, before her face shifted to a more confused and saddened one. "What – what does he mean by fine?" she asked weakly, beginning to lose her composure again at the thought of Harry … even more so after having the dream again. "He can't be fine … it's not possible…"

Ron frowned, both confused by Ginny's response, and growing concerned again at her sudden sadness.

"Why couldn't he be fine?" he asked hesitantly, the echo of Hank's warning about the subject ringing in his ears. "There isn't anything to say that something's happened to him?"

"Yes there is," Ginny whispered, feeling the heat in her eyes grow with each moment she thought of her dream. "I've seen it in my dreams…" She sniffled and shook her head, determined not to start crying again. "I'm sorry Ron, can we not talk about it please?"

"It's OK," Ron answered gently, feeling his heart wrench as Ginny wiped at a stray tear. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." He looked around the room, searching for anything to take her mind off of whatever she was dreaming about, but stopped when he heard another sharp bark from out in the Main Ward. Ron grinned and looked back at Ginny, who for her part seemed to have heard the bark as well, for her eyes were directed at the door, and were brimming with curiosity.

"What was that?" she asked, deadpanned.

Ron shrugged. "Let's go see," he suggested, gently tugging on Ginny's arm as he rose from the bed. "Your supposed to be let out today, so I don't think Madame Pomfrey will be too mad if you came out to have a look…"

Obligingly, Ginny slipped from the bed and walked out the door and halted briefly at the door to the Main Ward.

"It couldn't be Sirius, could it?" Ginny asked as another bark was heard.

"No … It doesn't sound as big as Sirius," Ron answered, hand on the latch. "Anyway … I doubt he's strong enough to be out and about yet."

With that, Ron opened the door and allowed Ginny to walk through first……

"Hey Hank," Hermione called out suddenly, making the Tabby cat pause and look at her, distracting him long enough for Snape to jump on his back and bite his ear. "Professor Snape, I think you've forgotten about something!" she declared, raising her voice over Hank's hissing and spitting.

At this, both Hank and Snape paused, Hank looking curious, and Snape still rather pissed off.

"Um … You've still got a classroom full of students waiting for you to go back and tell them that they can leave the room … remember what you said when Remus arrived?"

Snape let out a small growl and started to go, only to stop and give Hank a death stare. At that moment, the back door opened and Ginny walked out, closely followed by Ron.

"Miss Weasley, what are you doing up?" Poppy started as soon as she spotted her. "You should still be in bed – "

"But I feel fine Madame Pomfrey," Ginny argued. "I just wanted to see what all the noise was, and – Who's dog is that?"

Ginny pointed at Snape, who growled quietly, while everyone else started to snicker lightly.

"And isn't that Harry's cat?" said Ron absently, pointing at Hank. "Hey, where'd Snape and Hank get to? They were here when I went in to see Ginny…"

"Ummm…" Hermione faltered, knowing that Ron didn't know that Hank was Kahn … but he didn't know that the cat was Kahn either, so that shouldn't be a problem … Ginny however, didn't know about Hank at all. How would she react to something like that? "Well, Ron … Our resident Feline (she pointed at Hank) decided to have some fun with him." At this, she waved a hand at Snape, who was still shooting daggers at Hank.

Ron blinked, as what Hermione had said sank in, before exploding into a laughing fit, that was quickly converted into a hacking cough. Ginny however, was letting her gaze flick between the two animals, the discussion she'd overheard earlier resurfacing.

"So … That's actually Hank?" she asked, pointing at the cat, and succeeding in turning everyone in the Ward into a goldfish; mouth gaping and eyes wide. "What?" she asked indignantly, frowning at everyone's staring faces.

"H – How … how did you know about that?!!" Hermione finally managed to splutter. As if to confirm it, Hank transformed before them, reclaiming his seven-foot structure, and gazed down at Ginny thoughtfully.

Ginny shrank back considerably, thoroughly not liking the stares everyone was throwing her way.

"I – I overheard Professor Dumbledore when – when he was talking to H – Hank earlier on," Ginny stammered uneasily. "He said he was one then. Wasn't I supposed to know?"

"No, no Ginny," Hank said gently, smiling down at her. "We were actually planning on telling you, but now that you've found out by yourself, we don't have to. You're not mad at me are you, for not telling sooner?"

"Mad?" was Ginny's surprised reply. "Why would I be mad at you for something like that? You can decide who and when to tell anyone anything. Anyway, who wouldn't hide something like that after seeing the way Hermione was carrying on about them?"

Ginny grinned at her friend, who in turn stuck out her tongue. Ginny wrinkled her nose.

"Lovely look Hermione, it suits you."

Ron started to snicker in the background, drawing Hermione's attention to him.

"Hey! What's so funny?"

Ron instantly shifted his features into absolute innocence. "What? I didn't say anything."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh. Sure Ron…"

A sudden, sharp yap soon brought everyone's attention back to the irate Potions Master, who for his part looked about as ferocious as a stuffed teddy bear, though he was doing an admirable job to convince everyone otherwise.

"Oh! My apologies Severus," said Hank, grinning as he clicked his fingers casually, reverting him to his tall, dark self. "I forgot you were still here. Weren't you supposed to go and let your class out? I'd imagine they'd be quite irritated, being locked down in the dungeons for so long?"

Snape was looking infuriated, his frown was so deep you could hardly separate his eyebrows, and his eyes were blazing in their sockets.

"You can laugh all you want, O'Fallen," he hissed dangerously. "But now it's war. Consider our old school games, reinstated." He shot Hank a thin smile, pausing only long enough to glare at Remus, before turning on his heel, and sweeping from the Ward.

"Oh dear," said Poppy, raising her eyebrows as she turned back to Hank. "Now you've done it. I dare say that you remember what that was like back then?" Hank grinned devilishly. "Right … well, you're both grown ups, and he knows loads more now than back then. You'll have your work cut out for you now…"

Hank chuckled. "Never fear Poppy. He can't outdo me. Not in a thousand years…"

"Oh I don't know about that, Hank," Dumbledore remarked, smiling brightly. "He's grown much more cunning through the years. And devious. Remember, he's a Slytherin, they think differently then everyone else."

Hank was nodding his head as Dumbledore spoke, almost rolling his eyes as he did so. "Yes Albus, I know all about a Slytherins mind. Don't worry about anything. Remus … once you're up and about, would you do me the honour of joining me in this small venture?"

Remus's dull features almost instantly perked up, as he smiled brightly. "The honour would be mine, old friend. Just like old times, huh?"

"Oh god I hope not," Poppy muttered, shaking her head. "And now that you're all older, I'd better expect some nastier side-effects this time around, hadn't I…?"

"Just try not to hurt each other too badly, boys," Dumbledore remarked light heartedly. "I remember some of the things you'd do to each other twenty years ago … let's all hope that your older age has toned you down a touch.

"Ha! No chance Albus," said Hank, practically bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet with anticipation. "If anything, it's made us worse."

"Wait," Hermione spoke up suddenly. "You went to school here, with Remus?"

Hank nodded. "Yes, I did. I was in the same year as him, Sirius … you know, the whole crowd. I came here during their last year, posing as a transfer student. We hit it off instantly, as partners in pranks do … though in our case it was more that just the two of us, obviously."

"But, how would you pass off being a student?" Hermione questioned. "No offence, but you look too old for someone of seventeen or eighteen…"

Hank grinned. "That's easy," he stated. The next moment, everyone gasped (other than Remus and Dumbledore), as Hank's age decreased before their eyes. He was now about six feet in height, his hair was short but bangs were still hanging in his eyes. He was nowhere near as large and muscular as before, but still impressive for his now seventeenish looking face.

"Wow," Hermione breathed, unable to find any words for what she'd just witnessed. Ron and Ginny were simply speechless. "You can change your age?"

Hank nodded. "How old I look, yes," he answered, though his voice was smooth and youthful, not the baritone purr that they'd become accustomed too. "But I can't make myself look any older than what you saw before. That's the *real* age. But this is what I looked like when I was seventeen … but that was *many* years ago…"

"It's like looking at a memory," Remus said suddenly, staring at Hank.

"Did you know Hank was a Feline when you were at school, Remus?" asked Ginny hesitantly, seeing the emotion starting to swell in Remus's eyes.

Remus blinked, and shook his head. "No, we didn't know what he was when he started. We just assumed he was a strange kid from some weird ass country. I mean, even back then, he didn't wear the uniform, always had bare feet, even in winter. No, we didn't find out for a very long time … but I'm just assuming he was much more careful back then as well. Either that, or the students he's been hanging around lately are a lot sharper than we ever were?"

"I would agree with the latter, old friend," Hank answered hurriedly. "I don't believe I've been careless at all."

"Oh, so having an audience last night, while you were catapulting yourself around the rooftops, was completely intentional?" Remus remarked dryly.

"Well OK fine," said Hank, rolling his eyes. "That wasn't exactly planned … But who would've thought that anyone would be in those particular corridors at that time of night?"

"Well considering that we wouldn't've been if we weren't looking for you in the first place," Hermione put forward dryly. "What else would you expect? I mean … Harry tells you that Sirius will be fine, and you go and *vanish* on him. Naturally he'd worry about you, and when he saw Remus leave dinner last night, he correctly assumed he was looking for you as well, so he went looking too."

"Um, about Harry?" Ginny spoke up timidly, looking at Hank. "You – you told Ron that – that he was ok … is that true?"

"Of course it's true, Ginny," Hank answered, smiling warmly. "He's been found, and soon I'm going to go fetch him. You'll see … when he gets back, there'll be nothing wrong with him."

Ginny smiled, though most of them could tell it was strained. She nodded and made to take a seat on one of the beds, but stopped at Hank's voice.

"Why don't you go and lie down for a while?" he said, but there was something different about his voice. It seemed to resonate, coming from everywhere, though focused on Ginny. "You're tired, child," he continued gently. "Go and sleep."

Much to everyone's surprise, Ginny looked at Hank through drowsy eyes, right before covering a yawn with her hand. She nodded sleepily and changed direction, now heading back toward her room slowly, and disappearing through the door.

All eyes swivelled around and fixed on Hank.

"What did you just do?" Ron demanded, not even bothering to sound polite with the question.

"I should think that would be quite obvious?" was Hank's short response. "She's at the end of her tether at the moment, where Harry's concerned, and I wasn't about to have her here when I go and get him. Yes he'll come back alive … but I should think he'll look worse than what he did the first time I brought him back, after he was shot. I wasn't about to have her witness that, and by all rights, neither should you two." Hank pointed to both Ron and Hermione, eliciting an indignant scowl from the both of them.

"We've seen Harry in bad shape before," Hermione declared firmly. "Why should this time be any different?"

"I don't care if you've seen Harry injured in the past or not," Hank retorted, just as forcefully. "It will be nothing compared to this, and shouldn't be seen by eyes as young as yours. As it is you've seen more than most three times your age, and you shouldn't have to…"

"So you're not going to let us stay?" said Hermione, sounding defeated and looking down at her feet.

Hank gazed at both her and Ron for a few moments, debating with himself if he should allow them to remain or not. Taking a deep breath, and knowing that he shouldn't be doing what he was about to, he answered her. "I will let you stay, but only if you give me your word of honour, that you won't have a breakdown when I bring Harry here. You must remain as calm as possible, and keep your wits. If either of you show any signs of a mental meltdown, you will be rendered unconscious via a sleeping charm … Understood?"

Hermione swallowed, and Ron looked as uneasy by Hank's words as she felt.

"Do you really think he'll be that bad?" she asked, hoping Hank was over exaggerating.

"That doesn't answer my question, Miss Granger," said Hank firmly, not detracting from the subject at hand.

"We understand," said Ron softly as Hermione nodded. Even though Hank still looked a couple of years older than they did, he was still able to radiate an aura of authority and mild intimidation. Hermione was sure that even Dumbledore would quake a little if Hank really got going.

Hank nodded, accepting their agreement. "As for your question, Miss Granger, I believe that Harry's condition will be worse than yours was when I found you on Wednesday."

A kind of numbness settled over Hermione at Hank's words, knowing the significance of them. She remembered all too well what Hank had told her. She'd come a breath away from dieing … and Harry was suspected to be worse…

"How can you think he'll still be alive … if he's going to be worse than that?" she asked breathlessly. "As it was *I* was a step from deaths door, and yet you still haven't gone to get him?"

"Because I know he'll live," was Hank's soft answer, as he slowly aged to his twenty-fiveish looking self again. "He can't be killed … at least – not by Wolfgang, anyway. He knows it, and as such, knows he can do whatever he wishes to Harry, because he won't die from it. He took him only to make sure of that fact."

"Why can't he be killed?" said Dumbledore, frowning at the Feline with something resembling suspicion.

Hank and Dumbledore locked eyes for the briefest of moments, having something that resembled a battle of the wills. Finally, with a small grimace of defeat, and to everyone's surprise – Dumbledore averted his eyes first.

"I don't appreciate my staff keeping vital information from me, Hank," Dumbledore said clearly, after regaining his composure. "Especially not when it concerns Mr Potter. Even you have to respect my wishes when he's concerned…"

"And I do, Albus," Hank answered smoothly. "But there are some things that are best kept hidden … until the right moment presents itself. That time is not now. I hope you understand…?"

"I suggest you go and retrieve Mr Potter now, Hank," Dumbledore asked after a brief moment, clearly not wanting to answer Hank's question. "And I'd suggest waiting to heal him, until you get back here. You won't be any use to him if you pass out before you move him."

Hank didn't answer right away. Ron, Hermione and Remus could see that Hank was feeling a little more than upset by the fact that Dumbledore didn't even respond to his apology for keeping whatever it was he wasn't telling, a secret. His face remained fixed, determined … but his eyes were a pool of rejection. Dumbledore had flat out refused to even consider the reasons behind Hank's keeping information from him … and it obviously hurt his feelings considerably.

"Um, Albus…" Remus started hesitantly, still eyeing Hank off. "Maybe you should just – "

"No, Remus," Hank cut in unexpectedly, the sharpness of his voice successfully halting Remus's words. "I appreciate you trying to get our esteemed Headmaster to reconsider his position, but it is not required. It is his school, and one of his students. It would normally be his right…" Hank paused for a moment, as though sifting through his mind, trying to word his next statement properly. "However … I have higher standing than Albus does, where Harry is concerned. If there is something about him I don't wish to say, than you have no power to make me tell you." Hank paused again, almost smiling at the shocked expression on Dumbledore's face, before continuing quickly. "And lets not forget, Albus, that you have a penchant for keeping secrets from everyone. Remember Harry's status as an Animagi … You saw it fit to keep most of us, plus Harry, in the dark about your involvement in it. Don't demand of us what you don't display yourself."

The tension in the air of the Hospital Wing was almost tangible, as Hank and Dumbledore resumed a small staring contest, while the others looked on.

"If you'll all excuse me…" Hank said suddenly, making everyone, bar Dumbledore, jump slightly, right before he vanished in a swirl of light, Orbing to retrieve Harry.

No one said a word, even after the last particles of light had disappeared, not game enough to utter a sound for fear of making Dumbledore blow his stack, as it looked he could do so at any moment. Ron and Hermione exchanged a nervous look, while Remus met Poppy's gaze, before they all turned back to Dumbledore, who was still staring at the place Hank had been standing moments beforehand, his blue eyes blazing intently.

Remus was the first to regain his courage, and speak up first.

"Errr, Albus, would you be able to inform me of what that was about? What did he mean by he has more say over Harry than you?"

Dumbledore seemed to take a calming breath, eyes closed, before opening them and turning to Remus slowly, a little more sedated than before.

"Don't worry yourself over it, Remus," he answered, a trifle stiffly. "It isn't the first time we've had a disagreement over how much we tell each other. I must remember that he has his own rules to life … and I have no say in those rules."

"But, he just said that Harry couldn't be killed," Hermione put in hastily, blushing with embarrassment as everyone turned to face her. "Um … not that that's a bad thing, but, why wouldn't he tell you the reason behind something so important?"

Dumbledore shrugged and heaved a heavy sigh. "I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you that, Miss Granger," he answered quietly. "But, I must respect the fact that he has his reasons to keep silent. I certainly won't force him to do otherwise…"

"Well it's not like you'd be able to force him to do anything, would it? Hank would be able to flatten you in a heartbeat, wouldn't he – " Ron said suddenly, obviously blurting out what he was only meant to be thinking, for not two seconds later his face turned the same colour as his hair. "Um … sorry…"

Dumbledore's face slowly slid into a small smile, chuckling at Ron's awkwardness. "That's quite all right, Mr Weasley. You are correct of course …… I could never hope to defeat Hank in anything, even when I was younger. But I wouldn't even attempt it. He is a comrade, after all, and I would trust no one more willingly with my life as I do him." ……

Vixsy averted her eyes as Wolfgang withdrew his blade from the boys chest, feeling sickened by the sight of the bright red liquid running down the silvery sheen. She heard her brother chuckle, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out the painfully shallow gasps of air Hank's charge was making; each short jet filled with agony.

"Well," came her brothers voice, forcing her to open her eyes and face him, pretending not to be phased by the sight in front of her. "I think that's proved my point," he continued, grinning toothily down at Potter. "He's still alive … and I know from experience that he should've been dead a very long time ago. He's the Last," he declared, finally turning to face her, his yellow eyes blazing brightly, all traces of humour gone.

"Do you think we should be discussing this in front of him?" Vixsy suggested, nodding at the half conscious boy, noticing the pool of blood beneath him growing steadily. "He's still aware … at least, partially."

Wolfgang shrugged. "If he doesn't know what he is, that's not our problem. It's his guardians job to tell him what he is, and if he hasn't then it's his fault. Anyway," Wolfgang continued, glancing down at Potter. "I doubt he's actually absorbing this information. He's probably bordering on Catatonic at the moment, so don't worry about it."

Vixsy nodded absently. "If you say so…" she relented, wishing that her brother would stop delaying and deliver the boy to his favourite spot. "Are you going to take him to the drop point now? Or do we have to put up with his pitiful presence for the rest of the night?"

Wolfgang snorted, waving a hand absently, cleaning the blade of his sword instantly. "I have better things to do, than watch over a snivelling little child. However, I couldn't be bothered taking him anywhere either. We'll just leave him here, and let our Feline brethren search him out…"

"But, the wards you put up prevent him from detecting him," Vixsy countered, feeling a mild jolt pass through her at her brothers words. If Potter was left here, he wouldn't be where she told Hank he would be, and having Hank feel she lied to him wasn't something she wanted to experience in the near future. "He wouldn't even know where to start looking for him."

"So?" Wolfgang countered, shrugging nonchalantly. "That's his problem, isn't it. Don't get me wrong, nothing would make me happier than presenting my nemesis with the body of his charge in such a condition … but I think I'll let him look," he finished, grinning broadly, showing almost every fang in his maw.

Feeling nauseated by the gesture, Vixsy mimicked his smile and nodded. "That'll work as well, I suppose. It's not like he'll die any time soon anyway, so waiting a little longer won't hurt."

"Precisely, my dear," Wolfgang grinned. "Now, I'm rather hungry after all that. Would you accompany me to dinner tonight? I know a quaint little restaurant in London that serves rather delicious Lamb Chops."

Pasting a smile to her face, Vixsy nodded.

"I'd love to, but there's something I mush tend to first, so if you'd tell me where to meet you, we can go from there?" ……

Hank was bordering on the hysterical after searching all of the area's that Wolfgang would most likely be dropping Harry at, but his search so far had been in vain. There was no sign of the Kanite, nor Harry. There wasn't even a note, or any sign that they'd been at any of the locations.

Pushing down his panic, Hank tried to think rationally, but failed miserably. What could've happened to them? Had Harry been dropped off already, but been taken by someone else? Or worse – What if Elise had lied to him about Wolfgang's plans to drop his charge at one of the few locations?

Thought's of a similar train where flying through his mind, even as he Orbed back to the place that brought him the greatest amount of heartache.

He looked over the vast field, feeling his heart catch in his throat; the same as it did every other time he came here. The sweeping meadow was alight with thousands of ever burning flames, hovering a couple of feet off the ground … each one representing a Feline that had died over the millennia, whether they be pureblood or half. It didn't matter. Most Feline's didn't differentiate between those that were the result of binding with a human, and those from two Feline's.

Hank took a shuddering breath as he stepped into the shrine, knowing the location if his own Brother's flame, along with his Son's … but Hank was here in search of two with a much more profound effect on him.

The flames for his wife and daughter.

He made his way through the rows; every so often, letting his gaze shift to look into one of the flames, seeing a moving form inside it. Blinking, Hank shook himself and kept his sight on where he was heading, hating just how many familiar faces he saw on his walk. How many of these flames had he seen created over his lifetime? Too many. Most of them had passed in the last two hundred or so years.

Hank let his feet take him to where he wanted to go. He'd been there so often that he didn't even need to think about where he was going anymore. He turned down a row automatically and walked along it. It was the longest row in the meadow.

As he strolled along, Hank took a moment to take another look over the field. He wasn't born when the memorial was first established; about a thousand years ago, but as long as he could remember, the rows had been set up to represent all that had died, from one bloodline. Some contained only a few flames, signifying that a good deal of Felines from that bloodline were still alive, or it was only a young one; recently created.

His eyes flitted back to the row he strolled beside, and felt his heart wrench at the long line of light. This row alone, was almost long enough to stretch the entire length of the field, unlike the others, which were still divided into columns.

A sadness enveloped him, as the sight of the flames once again made Hank realize that this once noble and powerful line, was only a breath away from extinction. He might have been married to one of their daughters … but he wasn't blood with them, and so couldn't carry the line on.

Hank held out a hand, as his feet came to an unconscious halt, and sighed heavily with the knowledge that the number of Feline's from the most prestigious and powerful line … could be counted on its fingers … and he knew them personally.

The only thing that lifted his heart a little, was the knowledge that the Kanite's shrine, had a line just as long as this one. The two bloodlines were the most passionate of enemies, and were – unfortunately – destined to wipe the other line into oblivion. It was ancient and now forgotten magic, that had the two lines killing each other for eons. The very last one surviving, would gain the power of both lines … and all it's prestige.

Hank shook his head, not really understanding why such a foolish spell had been weaved in the first place. It only ensured the complete genocide of both lines, so what was the point? The power and knowledge gained by the sole victor wouldn't have been earned, and depending on who that victor would be … it would either be the worlds salvation … or it's destruction…

Sighing again, Hank banished these thoughts from his mind, as he turned to face the flames his feet had stopped by. A sad smile was barely visible on his features, as his eyes misted over at the sight of his beloved's face, smiling up at him from inside the flame.

Hank breathed deeply, trying to keep control of his emotions, even as he felt warm tears falling from his eyes, as his gaze shifted slightly and fell on the image of his daughter. He smiled serenely, and felt a heavy weight descend on his shoulders at the same time at the image. His little Emily had been only five, when she was taken from him so suddenly … so cruelly.

Sinking to his knees, bringing the flames to eye level, Hank couldn't help but let his mind wander to that night … that unforgettable night, so long ago …

It was a night like any other. Where he would shed his human façade and go about his Felanade business, with little worry about running into any human colleagues. He bid farewell to his beloved, Gwen, and his precious Emily, but as he went to leave, Gwen suddenly clasped onto his arm; a strange unease in her hazel eyes.

"What is it, sweet?" he'd asked hesitantly, not wanting to frighten Emily, who was watching her parents with rapture. "I have to go, it's important. I'm already late…"

Gwen opened her mouth, but shut it and turned to Emily instead.

"Honey, why don't you go to bed now, hmmm?" she said sweetly, kneeling beside the small girl and brushing her raven hair from her face. "I have to talk to your father for a minute."

Emily twisted her lip, almost looking irritated that she couldn't listen in, but nodded her head anyway.

"OK mummy," she answered, stepping forward and giving Gwen a tight hug. "Will you read me a story later, please?"

Gwen smiled warmly, returning the hug. "Sure sweetie," she answered. "Hurry off to bed now," she added, letting the girl go as she stepped toward her father.

"Goodnight daddy," said Emily, looking up so she could see her fathers furry face, before giggling as he floated her up high enough to envelop her in a tight hug.

"Goodnight sweetie," he answered softly, almost purring. "Be good for mummy, OK?" He felt her nod against his chest, before bending over and placing her gently on the floor again. "Off to bed now, sweetie," he said, smiling as he ruffled her dark hair. "Love you."

"Love you too, daddy," Emily replied, as she turned and pattered off to her bedroom.

Turning back to Gwen, he frowned in worry. "All right honey. What is it?"

She scowled up at him good naturedly, but couldn't wipe the anxiety from her eyes. "Can you turn back for the moment please? I don't like talking to your chest, eye catching as it is…"

He grinned at the comment, but did as she asked and reverted to his human form. Now considerably smaller, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"OK now Gwen … what's the matter?"

"I don't think you should go tonight," Gwen answered bluntly, but refusing to break eyes with him. "I have a bad feeling about it … I don't want you to get hurt…"

He sighed and gently drew her closer. "There's nothing to worry about, honey. I'll be fine. Now I have to go, all right?"

Gwen kept her eyes downcast and refused to unlink her arms from about his neck. He sighed again, growing impatient.

"I have to go, Gwen. You know what I'm doing, and you know how important it is. I promise I'll be careful, and I'll try to come home early. Better?"

She looked up, tears shining in her eyes, but nodded reluctantly. He smiled and bent his head, brushing his lips lightly against hers. She returned the caress, before letting her arms fall to her side, gazing up at him with undisguised worry.

"Please be careful," she whispered, ignoring the small droplet of water running down her cheek.

He raised a hand and gently wiped the stray tear away. "Don't worry honey," he answered softly. "If all goes to plan, that mangy Slytherin won't know what hit him." He bent his head once more and gave her a soft kiss, before stepping out of her arms and Orbing away … the last thing he saw of her, being the sad smile flitting across his beloved's face……

"I thought I might find you here."

"You shouldn't be here," Hank answered to the voice, letting the painful memories drift from the front of his mind for the moment. He turned to see Elise standing behind him, looking both nervous, and sorrowful.

Hank eyed the red-haired Kanite, wanting very much to hate her for her part in his families death, but knowing the she had no idea what her brother had intended to do with the information she'd given him. She also found the genocide of the two lines pointless, but had not the power to stop her brother in his ambitions.

"I know I shouldn't be here," Elise replied, breaking Hank's train of thought. "I sought you out while I had a free moment to tell you where Harry is. Wolfgang decided to leave him where he is, just because he knew it would take forever for you to find him, so I decided to give you the area he's in."

Hank nodded in polite appreciation, inwardly gushing with thanks at the thought. Taking one last fleeting glance at his parted family, Hank raised from his knees and turned to face her, asking with the utmost seriousness, "What is his condition?"

As soon as the question left his lips, Hank knew the answer without Elise uttering a word, purely from the barely noticeable wince, and sudden pain in her eyes.

"Well," she started dejectedly. "If he wasn't what he is, then he would be dead at least three times over … if that gives you something to go by?"

Hank shut his eyes and took a few deep, steadying breaths, trying to force the visual he'd just conjured from his mind, and speaking over the lump that had formed in his throat.

"Where … Um … Can you take me to him, Elise?" he asked finally, opening his eyes to see the Kanite biting her lip with indecision. "Please? It would be so much quicker if you took me to him…" Hank paused, studying her expression, and realized what was causing her hesitancy. "You're not sure if Wolfgang would still be hanging around, are you?"

"No!" Elise answered hastily, before pausing and exhaling heavily. "Maybe," she relented. "I watched him leave, but I don't know if he'll be monitoring the area or not…"

Hank nodded, understanding the dangerous position she was putting herself in.

"That's all right," he reassured, "And I understand the line you're treading. Why don't you take me somewhere close by and direct me from there? It would probably be the easiest way, and that way we're not arousing your brothers suspicions."

Elise looked up at Hank, still seemingly battling with herself, but eventually nodding and holding out her hands.

Hank glanced at the slender hands offered, starting to feel a little apprehensive about the condition he'd find Harry in, especially after the statement Elise had given him on the subject. Knowing Wolfgang's tastes as he did, he very much feared what his eyes would lay upon when he found him.

With slightly trembling hands, Hank reached out and clasped each of Elise's hands in his own, holding his breath as he felt the familiar pull of Orbing……

"Do you really think Harry's all right?" Ron asked quietly, as he and Hermione sat on the end of the bed across from Remus. "I mean, I know Hank said he'd be in bad shape and all … but it can't be that bad, can it?"

Hermione turned to glance at him, looking as dejected as he'd ever seen her. He remembered Hank comparing Harry's condition with what Hermione's was on the Wednesday, but because he never saw how bad she was, he didn't know what to expect.

"Yes Ron," Hermione answered softly, looking at the floor anxiously. "Yes it can be that bad. Hank said that Harry would most likely be coming back in worse condition that he brought me in on Wednesday, and that's saying something. If it wasn't for the fact that Hank told us Harry couldn't be killed for some reason, I'd be inclined to think that Harry would have arrived here dead."

Ron didn't make a reply, finding himself unable to think of anything that would comfort either himself, or Hermione. Sighing, Ron let his gaze travel towards the two professors across the room. Remus was looking irritated about being kept in bed, and Dumbledore seemed to be trying to pacify him unsuccessfully. Both though, Ron noted, were only attempting to cover their worry for what they knew would be arriving any moment, hoping beyond hope that what Hank had told them about Harry's condition would be false……

The first thing that Harry registered when he gradually regained some semblance of awareness, was how his body was wracked with unbearable agony; the sensations with the slightest movement beating relentlessly against his weary mind.

He struggled to open his eyes, noticing a wetness in his mouth and throat, accompanied by a slightly metallic taste, and realised that he was breathing up blood. Harry's eyes opened fully at the sudden thought, and the memories of what had occurred before he'd lost consciousness snapped into view.

His newfound discovery of Hank being a Feline … Wandering around the lake … His abduction by Piedro and his sister … His elation at Remus's living status …

Harry's eyes darkened at what came next. Remus's torture. The childlike ecstasy that flitted across Wolfgang's features as he obliterated his friend so effortlessly. The Vixen taking the Werewolf away, as the Kanite began his torment on his newest victim…

Harry shuddered in revulsion, sending a wave of agony through him, as his mind started to filter through the mass and jumble of pain and vindictiveness that Wolfgang had so casually bestowed upon him. It almost made Voldemort seem kind and merciful in comparison.

"Why can't they just kill me and put me out of my misery?" Harry mused distractedly. "All anyone seems to achieve, is catching me — playing with my mind — torture me as a sick prelude to killing me …… but not get around to that final step before something else happens, letting me get away, or forcing them to flee."

A sudden coughing fit sent Harry into a fresh wave of spasms; the agonizing convulsions bringing even more crimson life from his lungs. All previous thoughts of contemplating his incompetent captors was wiped from his mind as the ferocious agony took over ruthlessly.

The fit subsided, leaving Harry panting heavily with the exhaustion the violent convulsions had created. It required most of Harry's remaining energy just to remain conscious, but he wouldn't give up that easily. He had to get out of here.

Gritting his teeth, Harry slowly inched his body over, struggling to roll over onto his side. The pain was immense, but slowly, it seemed to be dulling; almost as though his body was too numb to take the piercing sensations anymore. In a way, Harry welcomed this dullness, for it meant that he wouldn't be as hindered by the pain wracking his body.

Relieved, Harry finally managed to flip himself over and now lay flat on his stomach, now capable of slowly crawling out of this godforsaken hellhole. Briefly, and almost as an afterthought, Harry wondered how it was even possible he was alive, let alone able to move, after what Wolfgang had done to him before he lost consciousness. After all … Harry's last memory consisted of a rather large broadsword entering his chest cavity at a lethal velocity. He wasn't game enough to look down, but Harry could already feel the hole in his torso left by the blade, and how it extended out of his back.

Harry reached the doorframe, letting him gaze longingly out into the woodlands surrounding the small shack, signifying his freedom. Letting a grim smile flit across his lips, Harry felt a fresh bout of energy surge through him. Pausing for a moment in surprise and wariness, Harry took advantage of the sensation and shakily got to his knees. Feeling no adverse effects, Harry used the door for support and slowly got to his feet.

"How the hell…?" Harry was confused beyond reason. He was now standing without support, gazing reflectively down at his body, feeling acute bewilderment as he saw only superficial wounding where mortal injuries were minutes beforehand. The blood was still moist and caked to his body, but there was only scratching and slight cuts visible through his torn robes. The only major wound he still possessed was the deep gash on his chest, were a hole had been previously.

Harry looked at the sky, and estimated that no more than half an hour had passed since he awoke in the shack, and in that short time he had made an almost full recovery from near death. But the revelation confused Harry to no bounds at the same time. Why hadn't he healed this fast when he was shot the previous week? There wasn't that much difference in the circumstances after all? Both times he'd been horribly wounded, and fallen unconscious in a remote area … but Kahn had been required to heal him before. Why not this time?

Shaking his head, Harry took another searching look around himself, before guessing the direction Hogwarts might be in, and transforming; striding briskly off into the woods, not looking back once……

Hank opened his eyes as soon as he felt himself materialize, and looked around, seeing that he and Elise had Orbed into a rather dense forest. His eyes flashed around, trying to find any sign or hint of Harry's whereabouts, but the effort was futile.

"Come," Elise's soft voice called quietly, as she touched him lightly on the arm, getting his attention. "It's this way."

Elise turned and strode off, not waiting for Hank to respond to her brief announcement. He looked at her retreating back for a moment, before turning his eyes skyward, noting the dark clouds that had formed in a short amount of time, covering the stars and moon. Sighing, Hank returned his mind to the task at hand, and quickly caught up to the Kanite, just as she stepped out of the wooded area, and into a clearing.

Hank followed, non too quietly, but stopped as his eyes fell on a rickety wooden shack, standing near the centre of the open field. He couldn't tell if there was anyone in it, for the door was facing the opposite way, but what he did notice was that the whole area had been cut off from all probing, sensing, or links of any kind. It was like standing in the grounds of Hogwarts all over again.

"That's why I couldn't find him…" Hank whispered, eliciting a nod from Elise.

"That wasn't it's real purpose though," she explained. "It was a bonus actually." At Hank's confused glance, Elise stepped forward and explained as she strode toward the shack. "Wolfgang set up all these barriers not so you couldn't find Mr Potter, but so that the link that binds him to our newest Clan mate was made nonexistent … at least while he was here anyway…"

Hank felt his anger bristle, but held it at bay. It wouldn't do any good to take out his rage on someone that doesn't deserve it. "So Harry was made to suffer, while Voldemort remained unblemished."

Elise nodded sadly. "Yes, he was." She shuddered slightly. "I saw him right before I came to get you," she shook her head, "It wasn't the nicest of things to witness … even after so many years of watching my brother at his worst."

Hank repressed a shudder, as he saw Elise shake her head solemnly. Unbidden, flashes from the last time he'd seen Wolfgang's favourite pastime swam into view, overriding Hank's normal sight as the flashback took full force … Elise's voice calling out to him in the background……

Kahn wearily strode up the trail, feeling acute relief that that particular mission was over … at least for the moment. Him and his Clan mates had tracked down a band of Kanite's, slaughtering all bar one … the Slytherin. He'd managed to get away again, proving to be a rather annoying thorn in Kahn's side. He'd been trying to get him for centuries, but the mongrel always seemed to get away. Half the time he seemed to be playing with them, instead of putting a huge or mild effort into it.

"I'll get you one day, Slytherin," Kahn growled heatedly, baring his fangs in annoyance as he rounded the corner leading to his home…… where he was all but paralysed by the sight before him. "Oh my god!" came his strangled gasp, his violet eyes unable to tear their gaze from the horrible sight of his manor in flames, consuming everything inside it and in the immediate area.

Kahn didn't stop to think. In a heartbeat he was sprinting down the road, not caring if the humans saw him in his true form or not. He vainly fought against the fear and panic rising in his chest as he drew nearer, but the effort was in vain.

Kahn's breakneck pace slowed to a jog as he drew closer to the archway that served as the estates entrance. Hanging from the beam, seemingly floating in the air, were two silhouettes against the backdrop of flame. Feeling his heart leap to his throat, Kahn crept closer, the intense feeling of dread never giving him peace. The shadows were moving slightly … swaying from side to side in the wind. One was largish, the other familiarly tiny.

Abruptly, Kahn felt a wave of nausea, horror and rage rush through him like an inferno, as his eyes finally recognised what he'd been staring at……

SMACK!!

Hank crashed back to reality as something struck him forcefully across the face, bringing him from the brief encounter with his less than pleasant past. Blinking dazedly, Hank's eyes finally came to rest on Elise's worried, and appropriately apologetic features. As he regained his senses, Hank realised that he must have half collapsed during his flashback, for he was currently kneeling on the damp grass, his hands grasping onto his knees firmly.

"What happened?" he asked thickly, still feeling a little disorientated from the painful ordeal.

Elise simply stared at him for a moment, almost as though she was evaluating him.

"I'm sure you're the only one who can answer that," she stated quietly. "Though I have an idea, considering the line of conversation we were having before your little episode."

"You'd be right…" Hank whispered, his voice tight and strained. Blinking rapidly, Hank cleared his throat and started to stand. "How could it still hurt so much after so many years, Elise? I mean … it was over a hundred years ago, and I still remember it like I found them there an hour ago?"

Elise sighed softly as she knelt down beside the crumbling Feline, resting a gentle hand on his massive forearm. "Of corse it's going to hurt, Hank … but after a while the pain fades and you can move on. It wasn't your fault they went after Gweneth and Emily, you know. They were marked for death due to their blood alone … he would've gotten them both sooner, if you weren't out hunting for – "

"But I should have been able to stop him!" Hank rasped out, barely holding in the torrents of tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "I was supposed to protect them! It was my duty! They were my family. My world!" Hank's eyes were shining with anguish, as he looked past Elise's despairing features, and focused on the wooden shack he'd originally come to see. Hank frowned so deeply his eyebrows almost met, and all brightness vanished from the blue-green gaze. The memory of Harry abruptly forced its way back to the front of his mind, and with it came a sense of panic, and renewed determination.

Getting to his feet so suddenly that he startled Elise, Hank quickly jogged the rest of the way across the clearing, hearing the faint footfalls of his companion behind him as he rounded the side wall.

"You won't take the same thing from me twice…" Hank muttered, with more conviction than he'd used in a long time, as he skidded to a halt in from of the open doorway, holding his breath in preparation of seeing ……… Nothing.

Elise came running around the corner, coming to a stop at the sight of the stock still Feline, and felt her heart go out to him at the memories the form before him would most likely be causing him. "You can heal him…" she began, only to be cut off by a fuming Hank.

"Is this your idea of a joke?!" he spat, scowling heavily as he spun to face her. "What? No witty comebacks? No congratulating yourself on how well you fooled your former … companion?"

Elise had taken a surprised step backwards as soon as Hank had rounded on her, and shortly afterwards, felt hurt. But soon, confusion was the more prominent emotion, as she tried to piece together what Hank was yelling at her.

"What are you talking about, Hank?" she questioned hesitantly. "What joke? I don't understand…"

"He's not here!!" Hank shouted, gesturing viciously into the hut before stepping back, to allow Elise the room to step forward.

"How is that possible?" she breathed, frowning as she turned her gaze inward, her green eyes drifting over the bare ground, and clearly empty room. The only thing pertaining that Harry had even been there, was the sickeningly brown stains on the grass and dirt, signifying both fresh and dry blood. "But he was here!" Elise stepped into the shack, with Hank a step behind her, and let her gaze wander absently, trying to figure out what had happened. After a few minutes, she found herself standing in front of a rather deep gouge in the earth, reminding her of Harry's *exact* condition when she left to find Hank.

"What's that?" asked Hank, as he noticed her standing motionless, staring at the ground, spotting the blemish in the earth.

Elise's lip twisted as she obviously tried to sort out her thoughts. "It's what has me so confused as to where Harry could possibly be … that's what."

Hank frowned, mildly concerned by the strange answer, but soon found his gaze returning to the horrible stains on the ground, and some of the walls. "Why? What is it?" he asked absently, pushing the visuals of Harry's possible condition from his mind as he continued to survey the area.

Elise noticed Hank's distractedness, but decided to say nothing to him about it. "Are you sure you want to know?" she asked quietly. "It's not what you would wish upon most creatures…"

This immediately brought Hank's undivided attention back to Elise, and it stayed there, his eyes hard and cold. "Tell me," he whispered, suddenly recalling Ginny's dream earlier on that day, of her witnessing Harry's supposed death in her dreams. As Elise opened her mouth to answer him though, he already knew what she was going to say.

"He ran him through, didn't he…" Hank stated softly, just as Elise was about to speak. He looked down into her eyes, and immediately knew it to be true.

"How did you know?" she queried, looking puzzled though sympathetic.

"A girl at the school saw it in her dreams," Hank answered, letting his gaze settle on the spot where he knew Harry had been impaled, just as Ginny described. "She told me about it."

Elise nodded, knowing not to continue on this line of conversation any longer. Suddenly, she looked up at the sky, as though gauging something.

"What's wrong?" asked Hank, seeing her sudden anxiousness.

"I have to go," Elise answered hastily, gently laying a hand on his forearm. "I told Wolfgang that I wouldn't be long, and that was before I went looking for you. He'll start to wonder where – "

She didn't get to finish. A swirl of black light was gathering rapidly at the door to the shack, and neither Elise nor Hank had to be told who it was. In a split second, Hank's and Elise's eyes met, and a conversation had taken place that needed no words.

In a heartbeat, Hank orbed away, vanishing just as Piedro materialized at the door, facing the opposite direction, leaving Elise to explain herself to her volatile Brother……

"Albus," Remus spoke up, into the silence of the almost empty Hospital Wing. "Why isn't Hank back yet? Surely it wouldn't take him this long to find Harry, would it? He told us he knew where Harry would be, so – "

"Remus please," Dumbledore interrupted gently. "I know what Hank told us, but if something has held him up, then plainly there is nothing I can do about it from here. All we can do, is wait and remain patient."

Ron and Hermione could clearly see what Remus thought of that idea, and had to stop themselves from snickering. Not that they weren't worried about the delay either, but Dumbledore had a valid point. They could do nothing … except wait.

"You don't think that Harry managed to get away somehow, do you professor?" said Hermione, lifting her head from Ron's shoulder. "Maybe that's the reason behind the delay?"

Both Remus and Dumbledore seemed to ponder on the question, but Dumbledore quickly sighed heavily, making Hermione's spirits fall even lower.

"That could be one of many different possibilities, Miss Granger," said the Headmaster wearily. "Unfortunately, it is the least likely option, in my opinion. I severely doubt that Harry could escape from Wolfgang at all, let alone injured…"

"No one said that Harry has even *been* injured yet though," Remus cut in quickly, his voice showing his irritation on the subject. "Hank could have been wrong on that — "

"Professor Lupin, I thought I told you to get some rest?!!!" Poppy's strict voice rang out, echoing slightly in the large room, as she stuck her head out of her office door. "I'm warning you!! If you get yourself all worked up, I'm going to have to force a Sleeping Draught down your throat!!"

Remus cringed and scowled, shrinking back into his pillows.

"Yes Madame Pomfrey," he answered, ignoring Hermione's giggling and Ron's chortling. Poppy frowned at him sternly, but still nodded and shut her door again, leaving the small group alone again.

Remus sighed heavily, before turning his browneyes back to Dumbledore asking, "Should we tell Sirius about what's happening?"………

Sirius felt like his mind was trudging through mud, as he slowly became aware of his surroundings again. He blinked a few times to clear his vision, ridding himself of the black fuzziness at the edges of his sight. Sirius sighed contently, feeling the soft mattress below him and warm sheets covering his body, which wasn't hurting as much as it did when he first woke.

Deciding to test the waters a little, Sirius cautiously moved his arms, grinning when all they did was ache a little. Emboldened by this discovery, he slowly sat up, wincing at the initial flare of pain the movement caused. Ignoring the more than prominent ache around his back and midsection, Sirius swung his legs over the side of the bed — knowing it was an insane idea anyway — and attempted to stand.

An overwhelming dizziness overtook him and with a small gasp, Sirius half collapsed back onto his bed, shaking slightly from the exertion.

"Note to self … don't try that again today…" Sirius mumbled, rubbing his temples in an attempt to stop the room from spinning. Once his vision settled, Sirius noticed raised voices echoing faintly down the hall.

Figuring they echoed from the Main Ward, Sirius's curiosity was peaked. But how could he get there without collapsing on the way? Hold onto the wall? He shook his head almost immediately. "That wouldn't work," he thought out loud. "I'd still keel over because my legs won't take it…" He trailed off as an idea sprung to mind, making his eyes light up.

"Maybe my TWO legs couldn't take it, but what about FOUR?"