Chapter Five

Lupin woke later in the cell, to find the rest of them, except Sinistra, still unconscious. Lupin scooted over to her, and seeing that she was crying, put a comforting arm around her.

"Oh, Alana, look awful." She looked up at him and wiped one of her bruised eyes and smiled slightly.

"You don't look too well either." Her robes were filthy, her hair was tousled and dirty and her hands were bleeding and torn from pounding at the wood. Lupin took her hands.

"Oh, ouch," he muttered, and wrapped her hands in his cloak to stop the bleeding.

"Oh Remus!" she sobbed, "It was awful! He just, somebody just grabbed me and threw me in before I even had a chance to try and get away!"

She looked at his worn, yet young face, and noticed the lines on it were more visible now. "What, happened to you?" she asked, touching a bleeding gash on his head gently.

"I relived the worst night of my life, when I transformed, but was caught by illegal poachers and tortured." Then Sinistra saw the burns on his body, the ripped and bruised skin, the slashes from a whip that had cut through his robes to his back, the blood trickling from almost everywhere on him. Sirius had woken up... "And what happened to you, mate?" Lupin said.

"Dementors. Loads of 'em... And they gave me the kiss." Snape had woken up... He looked completely dreadful, it was clear he had had it worst of all.

"Oh, Severus, what happened?" Alana asked gently. Snape winced and sneered.

"None of your business." he spat. He glanced at Lupin. Lupin looked at him and nodded slightly. Snape gave him a look that said 'don't - tell - anyone!' Suddenly he leapt up. "Oh no!"

"What!" Lupin jumped.

"The spell!" Snape yelled hoarsely. "I was knocked out and I couldn't see anything to get it memorized for our escape!" He panted, out of breath and tired from the torture and loss of blood.

"That, Snape, is where you are wrong." Sirius looked up at him and grinned. Snape looked down at him.

"You did it? We can escape?"

Sirius nodded. All of them leapt up, hugged Sirius, and then each other. Well, that is, except for Snape.

"Okay!" Sirius said, happy for the first time in awhile. "Here's the plan..." They all moved into a huddle around Sirius. "What we need to do is make a map." He said in a quiet voice. "One that will show us the castle and where its occupants are."

"Oh!" Lupin said. "You mean like the Marau-" But Sirius elbowed him before he could finish his sentence. He looked at Lupin, then to Snape, and back at Lupin. Lupin, grasping what he was trying to tell him, nodded in understanding. Sirius continued...

After a few hours, they had a map. "Right," Sirius said. "Now, somehow, we have to get out in the corridor to perform the charm, since we can't use magic in here."

"Great plan Black," Snape said sarcastically, glaring at Sirius. "Now how are we supposed to get out into the corridor to perform the charm?"

"Well," Sirius said glancing around the cell. "I, uh, I guess I kind of forgot about that little detail..." Sirius said. Snape exploded.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FORGOT THAT LITTLE DETAIL? YOU BLOODY IDIOT! I KNEW WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER TRUSTED THIS WHOLE THING TO YOU!" Sirius' fists clenched.

"AT LEAST I DID SOMETHING! UNLIKE SOMEONE WHO IS SUCH A GREASEBALL HE CAN'T EVEN THINK BECAUSE OF ALL THE SLIME IN HIS HEAD FROM HIS HAIR!" Sinistra stood in utter shock, while Lupin stepped between the two before they began to rip each other to shreds.

"Come on guys, we'll figure it all out." Lupin said calmly.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS YOU FILTHY WEREWOLF!" Snape spat.

"IF YOU ALL DON'T STOP FIGHTING, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET ANYTHING FIGURED OUT!" Sinistra interjected suddenly. They all turned to look at her. "Well, how else was I supposed to get you to stop?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders.

"Right then," Lupin began, "We need to get this all figured out soon in case they come back."

"Well, if they do come back, we could try to make a break for it, and while we're running, one of us could perform the charm..." Sirius put in.

"Anyone object to that? We haven't really got many more options." Lupin asked. They all shook they're heads, all except for Snape.

"Come on Severus, it's the best plan we've got. At least give it a chance." Sinistra said, looking at Snape imploringly. Snape looked at her for a moment, then at the rest of them, then back to Sinistra. Snape sighed.

"Fine." He submitted reluctantly. The others smiled.

"Alright, then that's the plan." Lupin said happily.

Snape sneered, asking himself, "How can that stupid git be happy all the time?"

"Now, all we have to do is decide who will carry the map." They all looked at each other. Lupin looked from Sirius and Snape and jerked his head at Sinistra. Then, slowly, each turned to her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, taking a slight step backwards.

"Why. it's bloody brilliant Lupin!" cried Sirius.

"What is?" Sinistra questioned them apprehensively.

"It's you." Lupin said, smiling.

"Of course it's me, Remus!" Sinistra said obviously.

"No, I mean we'll give it to you!" He said eagerly.

"Me!" Sinistra said astounded. "Why me?"

"Because, they'll never expect it!" Sirius said. "They'd all expect one of us to have it!"

"Oh!" Sinistra replied, nodding her head in understanding. They all smiled broadly, except for Snape. "How does that sound to you Severus?" Lupin inquired.

"I guess... It does seem to make sense." He said.

"Alright, then it's settled!" Lupin said clasping his hands together and smiling. Sirius folded up the map and handed it to Sinistra who put it into the inside pocket of her robes.