Alex was still tugging on a pair of jeans, still trying to shake off the pain in her skull and the tight knot of fear in her stomach, when the soft knock sounded at the door. She opened it cautiously, wand poised. The witch smiled gratefully; it was Remus Lupin. She ushered the shabbily dressed wizard into the Knockturn Alley suite that had become like a second home. "Gods, I'm so glad it's you. When Severus said someone from the Order would be coming over, I was sure it was going to be Moody."

"You're stuck with me, I'm afraid," Lupin replied, opening the satchel he carried and placing the pensieve on the side table. "Mundungus and Kingsley are outside. Standing guard."

Alex sat down on the sofa. First chance we've had in days to be alone, and You-Know-Who has to summon Severus in the middle of the night. It's almost like he knows. She summoned up a cheerful smile and turned to Lupin. "Well, let's see what old You-Know... um, Voldemort has to say tonight." As Remus took his seat across from her, she lay down and slipped into the now-familiar trance. She entered a graveyard, joining the other black-cloaked and hooded figures. She heard Severus mutter a barely-audible complaint into his hood as the Dark Lord began to rage against Muggles, the Ministry of Magic, the ineptitude of his own disciples, and Harry Potter. Mechanically, she transferred each thought into the carved stone bowl.

Suddenly, Lupin was shaking her shoulder gently. Alex blinked. "There's a problem. Kingsley wants us to move." Silently, she slipped into shoes and a cloak and followed the greying mage out of the suite.

In the tiny lobby, a house elf gestured to a doorway. "This exits into Muggle London, sir, ma'am," she piped.

Kingsley Shacklebolt joined them in a dark alley moments later. "Dung saw someone he recognized. Who recognized him in turn, and returned with friends." The tall Black auror smiled, baring his teeth, a predatory expression. "He's leading them on a wild goose chase right now. We're going to get you to a nice Muggle hotel, Miss Rose." Alex found herself nearly jogging to keep up with the two wizards. She pulled out the pendant with its magic emerald, keyed to Severus' life force. When they passed under an electric street light, she saw that the stone was dark green, the same shade it had been when he'd answered the Dark Lord's summons. She slipped the necklace back inside her sweatshirt. "Did you get anything yet ?" she heard Shacklebolt asking Lupin.

"They're meeting in a cemetery. One of those modern Muggle ones; could be anywhere in Britain. I'll let you know as soon as we find out anything of use."

Before long, the auror had led them to a tan-painted metal back door set in a nondescript brick building He cast alohomora and ushered them into a stairwell. "I'll send an owl and get a couple others over here to help me guard the place. You've got room sixteen, on the fifth floor," Kingsley said quickly. "Tonks called ahead and booked the room. Useful to have a half-Muggle on the team," he grinned as he shut the door.

The room was nondescript, furnished with two double beds, a dresser, a television. There was an adjoining bathroom. Alex perched gingerly on the edge of one of the beds as Lupin locked the door. "Ready to try again ?" he asked. She nodded and eased herself back onto the pillow, closing her eyes. Nothing.

"Um, let me just use the facilities," Alex murmured. Closing the bathroom door behind her, she splashed cold water on her face. Just calm down, she lectured herself. You're perfectly safe. Safer than Severus is. She wiped her hands and face on one of the scratchy towels, checked the emerald again – still the same, he's okay – and finally, feeling slightly foolish, tucked her wand into the waistband of her jeans, hiding it under her sweatshirt. She returned to the bed and resolutely settled herself once more. Relax, dammit. Just relax.

"It's no good," Remus said gently, "you're fighting it. You're just very tense," he reassured her, "perfectly understandable."

Gods, I feel so stupid. "Sorry. Do you want to try a sleep spell then ?" Alex asked.

"I have another idea," he suggested, producing a small bottle from a pocket of his robe. "Calming Potion," he explained. "Drink this, and we'll give it another try."

"All right. Sorry," she said again. Alex drank the potion. After a minute, Remus cast his trance spell. This time it worked. In the dark cemetery, the Death Eaters were being called forward for the ritual of praise or punishment. Alex wondered if Severus had already taken his turn. She found herself hoping that she'd missed it. Ugh, those eyes... To her relief, the potions master wasn't focusing on the Dark Lord at the moment. His eyes darted around the circle of disciples, noting every detail.

As though from a great distance, Alex heard a commotion. She opened her eyes, blinking, dazzled by the bright electric light in the hotel room. A figure was shouldering its way through the door, giving her a confused impression of someone very large. Remus was shouting the words of a spell. Alex sat up, started to reach for her own wand. There were twin flashes of red light as she fumbled at her waistband, and then the room went dark.

-----

A rushing sound, dim, flickering lights, a hard, cold surface under her body. Alex was shivering and sick to her stomach. Her first thought was incoherent - what the hell is happening to me ? Then full consciousness returned. A car. She hadn't ridden in one of the Muggle vehicles since coming to Britain. The feeling of nausea receded as she became reaccustomed to the sensation of riding. Still, she was far from comfortable. Her legs and arms were bound tightly and there was a duct tape gag across her mouth. I'm in the back of a van. Someone Stupefied me...shit, where's Remus ?

Male voices made a brief exchange as the van slowed down and rounded a corner. The flickering light came from street lamps, shining through the windshield. There were no windows in the back of the van. Alex turned her head cautiously, rolling onto her back. Her shoulders protested as the weight of her body pressed her bound arms against the metal floor of the van. A dark form huddled next to her. The intermittent light coming into the back revealed Remus Lupin, also bound tightly. They were alone in the cargo area. He was conscious and straining at his bonds. Alex risked raising her head and shoulders to get a look at his face. One eye was swollen shut and there was a raw, red mark across his cheek. A strip of thick grey tape hung from his jaw. As their eyes met, he pursed his lips. "Shh," he cautioned soundlessly.

Alex lay back. He's managed to get the gag off, at least, she thought. He's a werewolf, stronger than a normal person; maybe he'll be able to get himself loose. She tensed her muscles against her own restraints experimentally. Shit. Duct tape wrapped her arms from elbow to wrist. It'd take magic to get this off me. Her eyes widened. Magic ! I've still got my wand ! And with his gag off, Lupin can use it.

She squirmed, straining against the tape, cursing silently. She couldn't reach the wand herself. Cautiously, she scooted closer to Remus, maneuvering so her hip was pressed against his hands. She nudged them. "Um. Pardon me," Lupin whispered.

Alex could have laughed if their situation wasn't so desperate. What, does he think I'm coming on to him or something ? Sheesh. She craned her neck, looking toward the front of the van. Fortunately, the men in the front were ignoring their cargo. Just my luck, I get kidnapped with a gentleman werewolf. Alex raised her hips and bumped against his bound hands insistently.

After a few moments that seemed like an eternity, Lupin got the hint. She felt him run his hands along her hip, feeling the shape of the wand through the tight denim. She held still as he wriggled higher, getting into position to slip his fingers into the waistband of her jeans. "Pardon me," he breathed again as they brushed against bare flesh.

Alex did laugh then, shaking soundlessly. Gods, I can just imagine him blushing right now, she thought, close to hysteria. Good thing it's dark or he probably wouldn't be able to manage it. With some difficulty, he got her wand and his hands free of her jeans. She felt him scoot back and could only assume he was trying to get the wand into position to cast. Her heart hammered in her chest. It would be difficult for him to attempt any magic, bound as he was, but it was their only hope. Merciful gods, let this work.

"Evanesco," Remus whispered hoarsely.

To her surprise, Alex felt the tape binding her disappear. She'd expected him to free himself first. Lupin pressed her wand into her hand. He really is a gentleman, she thought. With an anxious glance to the front of the van, she rolled over and pointed her wand at the werewolf's restraints. "Evanesco," she returned the favor, freeing him.

He grinned at her, teeth flashing white in the darkness. "Think we can take 'em ?"

"Absolutely," she whispered back. "Um, wait for a stop sign, we don't want to crash." Silently, the two mages rose to their knees. Alex tried to quiet the pounding of her heart. She was terrified. Her muscles were stiff and numb from lying tied up on the van floor. And I'm the only one with a wand. Gods, don't let them turn around. She risked a glance at Lupin. He seemed unperturbed. The van rolled to a stop at an intersection. "Stupefy !" Alex screamed at the thug in the driver's seat, as Remus sprang forward, grabbing the passenger in a headlock. The man was easily half again his size, but Remus overpowered him without difficulty, leaping over the seat to throttle him. Alex scrambled over the unconscious driver and shifted the van into park. A moment later she cast the stunning spell again and both kidnappers slumped unconscious. Two loud bangs followed as magic cords flew from the end of her wand to bind the thugs securely. Remus patted them down, locating his wand on the driver and pocketing it with an air of satisfaction. Alex was frantically searching the van. "The pensieve," she cried, panicking. "Shit ! Where the hell is it ?" She imagined a Death Eater leaning over the bowl, watching Snape's view of the meeting with Voldemort, realizing he was a spy.

"It's all right, it's safe," Remus reassured her quickly. "I banished it when they broke into the hotel room," he explained. He reached for the door handle. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

"And leave these two ? Not on your life." Alex was tugging ineffectually at one unconscious man, trying to get into the driver's seat. "A little help here, please ?" Remus heaved the two hapless kidnappers over the seat, dropping them carelessly into the back of the van. "Fasten your seat belt," Alex ordered, "here we go." Lupin peered around with interest as she pulled away from the intersection. No one seemed to have noticed anything untoward; there was no pursuit. He leaned back, allowing himself to relax. Alex made a right turn. Headlights came toward them. He tensed again. "For cryin' out loud," the American shouted. Tires squealed as she swerved to avoid the oncoming cars. "What, are you people crazy ?"

"Um, Alex ?" Remus ventured carefully, "I could be wrong, but Muggles drive on the left side of the road, I think."