We're almost there!!  Only 2 more chapters after this!  I'm cranking to the best of my ability!  Unfortunately I won't be updating over the weekend, I'm visiting the parents (for once).

--Aimes

PS—Avestia: yaay!! I'm on a favourites list!  What's a favourites list?  I'm not sure but it sounds spiffy in any case.  Thanks again for the kind words!

It had taken Remus and Callah almost an hour to figure out a system:  Remus sensed what direction they needed to go, Callah projected for a good apparition spot, and the three of them apparated to the chosen site.  It was fast, now that they'd worked it out.  Snape insisted on going first.

"I'm the most used to dealing with Malfoy.  Besides, if something happens to the first person that apparates, better that it be me.  We need Remus intact to find Hermione."  He hadn't said anything about Callah, and that's when it had hit Remus.

"I know the symptoms."  Remus looked over at Snape for a moment and the understanding passed between them.

"C'mon guys, Mya's like a sister to me.  It's approaching evening, we need to find her before he does anything that involves dismemberment."

So now they had apparated about 1000 miles into the desert.  Callah looked around at the miles of dune. 

"Are we close, Remus?"  the apparating was beginning to wear her down. 

"Yes.  Not more than a few miles."  Remus was looking tired as well.

"The apparating isn't good for you, Callah," Snape rumbled. 

"I don't apparate, I teleport, it's different.  And Remus doesn't look any better than me."

"Moon," Remus replied.

"Are you going to be able to handle this, Lupin?" Snape asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine.  Callah, project west of here for a few miles."  She did as he asked, scanning carefully, before noticing a glint.

"I see London, I see France.  I see the glass on the windows of Lucius' little hideaway."  She found a clear somewhat obscure place a hundred meters from the structure and showed it to the two men.  They all glanced at each other and disappeared.

When they reappeared, the sun had dipped behind the hills.  Callah dropped to her knees and took deep breaths.  Snape knelt beside her and stroked her back soothingly.

"Perhaps you should remain here, Callah." 

"No.  There's something out there.  Can't you feel it?"

"Other werewolves.  They're everywhere," Remus murmured.  "He must be using them to guard his hideaway."

Suddenly the full moon appeared, breaking into the night gloriously.  From all sides there was a chorus of howls.  Remus looked ill but okay.

"The extra-strength Wolfsbane Potion is holding."

"Of course it is. I brewed it," Snape was scornful.

There was a commotion from the direction of the manor.  Snape smiled grimly.

"He has to bring her outside.  Looks like sneaking in and getting her out quietly is not likely to happen."

"Then we go in with guns blazing,"  Callah replied.  She pulled a semiautomatic handgun out of her belt and cocked it.  "Wizards take bullets just like everyone else.  And werewolves take silver bullets."

Remus looked at her with an amused half smile.

They looked at each other and disapparated.

They each reapparated on different sides of the procession that had emerged from the house.

Malfoy was carrying an unconscious Hermione towards a small altar.  He was glowing eerily.  Callah appeared in front of the altar and started shooting.  She aimed for his lackeys, fully cognizant that the bullets wouldn't do anything.

Hermione jerked awake and started struggling.  Malfoy tightened his grip and she gasped as he squeezed her damaged ribs.

"Stop struggling or I'll be forced to make you hurt," he murmured.  Hermione was hit with a flashback to earlier in the afternoon when he'd carried her back to her room and tied her to the bed then leaned down and kissed her.  She gagged slightly at the memory.  Oh god.  He's my best friend's lover's father.  He's old enough to be MY father!  She struggled more.

Snape was throwing spells in every direction, his aim deadly accurate, and Remus was on the other side of the group, doing the same.

Soon however, the woman Malfoy had called Cielo was occupying Snape, and Callah had run out of bullets and was facing down Lobo.  Remus saw that those were the only ones left and he ran to intercept Malfoy before he reached the altar with Hermione.

"Another tasty little morsel.  Each one is tastier than the last.  Do you like it rough, princess?  We're going to have fun."

Lobo attacked and Callah dodged, throwing him forward with a small burst of energy.  He dove and came up from a roll.

"Gonna have to do better than that, Princess."  He lunged again, feinted, and took her down before she could react.  She grunted as she hit the ground and he was on top of her quickly. 

"You smell delicious," he growled and kissed her savagely.  He began to change.

Callah bucked her hips, throwing him off balance, and flipped him, then scrambled up and away as he began to transform into his werewolf form.

Lobo spasmed as the transformation progressed and she pulled out a silver knife, aimed, and threw it.

He reached to deflect it with a paw.

Callah smiled, threw a burst of energy, and drilled the knife into his throat.

Meanwhile, Snape had been hit with a Crucio.  He went down, made as though he were unconscious, then tackled Cielo with the last of his energy as she moved forward to deliver the killing curse.

He gripped his arms around her throat and applied as much pressure as possible without breaking her neck.

Cielo scrabbled against his arms, then lost consciousness.  Snape released her and rolled onto his back for a moment, exhausted.

Malfoy dropped Hermione on the altar and turned to face Remus.  Pompous bastard that he was he couldn't resist rubbing it in.

"Pathetic.  The entire Order of the Phoenix to choose from and they sent the werewolf that isn't.  He smiled and raised his wand, even as Remus' spells seemed to bounce off him.  Hermione rose from behind, pulled out the letter opener and slit his throat.

Malfoy stumbled slightly.  Shocked and weakened he turned to her.

"Finally figured it out, Malfoy.  I'm the only one that can hurt you.  You've been drawing on the power I didn't realize I had to gain your strength, and you brought me here to finish the job and resurrect yourself completely."  Hermione smiled, took a deep breath, and called all her magic toward her.  Magic she didn't realize she had came rushing back, hard.  Malfoy shimmered and screamed in agony.  "Burn in hell, you crazy son of a bitch!"

Hermione pulled harder and he exploded into a burst of light which coalesced back into her.  She glowed brilliantly for a moment and every cut and bruise seemed to heal instantly…then she passed out.

Remus caught her on the way down.