(A/N: This chapter is rather (meaning very) AU. Nothing in the Harry Potter books supports this being possible. But it works for me, OK? Just read and Review. Even if you feel the need to flame me for it ... Oh, and watch out for the line I nicked from PoA the film. I couldn't resist. Oh, and thanks for not threatening to kill me ...)
Chapter 28 – Only One Will Die Tonight
Voldemort glanced at Remus. The transformation seemed half-way through. He snatched his wand and pointed it at Sirius as he turned back. He yelled at the top of his high-pitched voice, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
And the wolf howled louder.
::Sirius' POV::
The final thought I had before the green light engulfed me was, 'That's the last thing I'm going to hear. My Moony's howl is the last sound I'll ever hear.'
Then all I saw was green, all I heard was my own last breath, all I felt was my heartbeat stopping. Before I lost everything, before every remnant of power over my self was gone, I slammed into the mind bond between myself and Remus, reaching out with my whole mind, desperately scrabbling for Remus. The werewolf felt me, wrapped himself around my soul and pulled me into his own body.
For a long, painful moment, our minds fought, and I was dragged, a dying soul, from my body into another's. My soul forced into my mate's pain-filled mind and fleetingly our minds were crushed into one writhing body. I screamed, forcing the werewolf's head to snap back. Remus howled, /Sirius! Get out! There's already two of us in this body fighting for control!/
/I'll die!/ I replied weakly and fearfully. Without my body, my soul was weaker than a kitten. I was scared of Death and I admit it. I wasn't ready to die yet. Remus sobbed, /Please ... I won't let you go. I'll never let you go./
I could hear the emotion in his voice; I believed him. I slowly uncurled from around Remus and Moony's minds and felt my self leave Remus' body. I blinked as the world went grey. I could see Death Eaters running around. I could see my own body. I turned and looked at Remus. He was staring at Peter, drooling. The change was complete. I could see a thin, silvery bond between us. I was safe – for now.
I started to run, towards Peter. I didn't want him dead. I wanted him to suffer for what he had planned to do – suffer in Azkaban, with no happy memories. I reached him and gave him a shove. There was an odd jolt and, for a second, I was in Peter's body. The body we were inside writhed, as though in unspeakable pain. I forced his mind into submission, and then into unconsciousness. Then I let go, not wanted to be inside that evil shell a moment longer than necessary. Peter's body fell to the floor, limp.
::3rd Person::
Sirius turned towards Moony again. The werewolf was turning its head from side to side, sniffing. He seemed to be trying to choose the most terrified Death Eater to attack first. Sirius suddenly felt a tug on his self, something puling him away. The silvery bond between him and the werewolf flared. He smiled. He was still held safe by Remus.
The werewolf suddenly started to run, bounding at the Death Eaters, who were all backing away towards the furthest door from Moony. Sirius glanced around, looking for Voldemort. He wouldn't allow him to escape. This man – could he still be called a man? – was going to kill three innocents.
Through the bond, he yelled, /Moony – Remmie – he's heading for the doors!/
The werewolf stepped almost daintily off the Death Eater he was ripping at with his claws and turned. He leapt towards the door and blocked the Dark Lord's path. He started backing away, eying the long fangs with wary black eyes. He reached for his wand. Moony leapt, knocking his hands away from the wood and snapping his teeth down on it. There was a crack.
"No! My wand! My WAND!"
The voice was faint and echoey in Sirius' ears. Moony dropped the pieces and growled. Voldemort looked terrified. He reached up with hopelessly brittle fingers and grabbed the thick fur around Moony's neck in a desperate attempt to stop him. Moony raised a paw and scored three parallel cuts into his shoulder. He shrieked in pain and cried to his Death Eaters for help. They continued to hurry for the doors. Sirius saw them and willed them to see him. He started to run and skidded to a halt before he hit the door. He growled, desperately hoping they would see him. He felt the shape of his self change to that of the large Grim-like dog. He bared his translucent, blue-silver fangs. Suddenly, one of them screamed, "Look!".
They started to run the other way, then saw Moony. After a moment, they froze, trapped between two evils. Sirius relaxed, feeling himself shift back to his old shape – whatever that was – and started to walk back towards Voldemort. As he did so, the Dark Lord grabbed a piece of his broken wand, pointed it up at Moony and screamed, "Stupefy!"
The broken wood went haywire, sending the spell straight past Moony, through Sirius and into the Death Eaters, stunning them all in one blow and sending them toppling to the floor. Sirius felt dizzy for a moment after the spell passed through him, but it didn't affect him. He continued forwards as Moony severed a muscle, forcing the Dark Lord to drop his wand with a yell of pain.
As he approached, Moony slashed down on the skin barely covering Voldemort's jugular, easily bringing blood to the surface. Then he buried his fangs in the alabaster throat, effortlessly breaking paper-thin skin and severing arteries.
Voldemort let out a scream before Moony dug deeper into his neck and his scream died, as he soon would. Sirius winced as Moony tore at Voldemort's neck, spurts of blood plastering his chin and throat and staining pale fur. In that moment, he suddenly noticed something odd. He squinted at the body. He could see Voldemort's mind fighting to get out of his living corpse; he was succeeding. He growled and dived at him, grabbing the escaping soul and dragging it back into its body.
Pain exploded immediately all through Sirius' soul. He held Voldemort's tightly, preventing his consciousness from getting out of the body it should have been tied to, forcing him to die. Voldemort yelled, petrified, Let me go!
No! You were going to kill Lilly and James – not to mention their unborn child! Their INNOCENT child! It had done nothing to you!
He would destroy me!
You think I care? You think ANYONE cares? You would kill an innocent! I can't let you live when you've intended to murder a blameless child!
But – but –
I won't let you live – I can't.
Only one will die tonight! Voldemort told Sirius, struggling harder.
Then it will be you! Sirius yelled back, forcing Voldemort's soul back, keeping him inside his own body. Sirius could feel the pain engulfing him, feel an alien heart ceasing to beat, hear the desperate breaths that couldn't come through a broken throat, sense blood filling unfamiliar lungs. He screamed suddenly, unable to take any more agony, shoving himself away from Voldemort and towards Moony.
Thankfully, it was too late for Voldemort. Sirius watched as the soul inside the broken body dimmed and died too. It died fighting, scrabbling to leave its broken carcass when it didn't have the energy to do so. Sirius closed his eyes. Or whatever passed for his eyes in this half-alive, bodyless state.
He suddenly realised that the tugging on his soul was becoming very insistent. His 'eyes' snapped open again. He felt weaker than ever before. He couldn't fight it. The wolf looked up, sensing his mate's weakness. Sirius whispered, /Moony ... help .../
Sirius felt everything going dim. Moony's low growl shouted to him, /Go right!/
Sirius tried to stagger sideways, and felt himself becoming less and less substantial. Everything was darkening with each passing second. Suddenly, he realised his own body lay right before him. He reached out to touch his empty shell's hand. This was not his time to die. He had too much to live for.
He scrabbled, desperately reaching for his own hand. Finally, he touched his skin and felt a strange sensation of being pulled inside his own body again. Then there was an uncomfortable feeling, almost like being asleep and awake at the same time. Being dead and alive at the same time.
There was a sudden feeling of intense, painful heat in his chest. His mind screamed at him to breathe, to get oxygen to his heart and brain, to live. He took a deep, agonizing breath, and felt life return to his body. His eyes flew open as his back arched involuntarily. He gasped down another couple of breaths, then started coughing, unable to stop. After a long moment, he closed his eyes again, his breath finally calming to a little faster than normal. He swallowed and called feebly, /Moony ...?/
The werewolf, blood dripping from his chin, padded over and nuzzled into Sirius' side. He had stayed away, ears back, during his coughing fit, slightly afraid. He opened his suddenly tired eyes and looked up into Moony's golden ones. He could feel Voldemort's surprisingly pale blood dropping onto his chest. He tilted his head back to bare his neck. People had told him before now, many times, that the wolf wouldn't spare him just because he was his human counterpart's mate, and he didn't have the energy or will-power to change. He would rather die at Moony's mercy than fight him. However, the werewolf simply swiped his rough tongue across his throat, leaving a red mark, and nuzzled into his hair.
Apparently the 'experts' were wrong. Sirius reached up and stroked the werewolf's head. Moony whined and snuggled into his hand. Sirius scratched him behind the ears. /Well done. And thank you. I love you ... both of you .../
He felt the wolf's happiness through their bond. For once, both Remus and Moony agreed on something. /We love you too./
Sirius drifted into unconsciousness.
Moony lay down beside Sirius' unconscious body, whining. He was worried beyond anything. That night he had almost lost his mate, a mate both he and Remus loved dearly. After all, they were fundamentally the same being. He licked Sirius' forehead, snuggling into his hair to smell his distinctively 'Sirius' scent, knowing already that he associated it with safety, love and trust.
Moony leant his head on Sirius' shoulder and sighed. He wouldn't let anyone near his mate now. He turned his head slightly to press his nose against his mate's neck. He could smell the sweet blood beneath the ghost-pale skin; see the skin rise and fall as the blood rushed past with each beat of his heart; hear the sound of his heart, now beating strong and even in his chest; feel each breath he took ruffle his fur.
Moony raised his head for a moment and looked down at Sirius' peaceful face. Remus murmured to him, He's perfect.
Moony barked a laugh, then licked Sirius' cheek. I know. Please ... let me mark him –
Bite him and I swear I'll put a silver dagger through our heart.
Just a scratch, human. I swear ... I'd never bite him.
Just a scratch ...
Moony took looked down at Sirius' bare chest and lifted a paw. He unsheathed his claws and scored down his chest, bringing deep red blood to the surface. Sirius twitched. Inside the wolf, Remus smiled. That'll do.
Moony nuzzled Sirius' neck until the frown of pain disappeared, then licked at the blood. It tasted sweeter to the wolf than to Remus. Quickly the scratch scabbed and Moony left it alone. He snuggled up to Sirius' body and lay with his front half covering his chest and stomach so his nose was just underneath Sirius' chin.
He lay like that all night, keeping Sirius from catching cold; allowing him to snuggle into his warm, living body for comfort as nightmares flitted through his head; watching for any intruders who would harm his mate.
Dumbledore placed a hand on James' shoulder. He was standing at the edge of the small wood near Voldemort's fortress, staring at the depressing construction with worry and hate in his eyes. "Stop worrying, Mr Potter. I'm sure everything is fine."
"What if we're too late, Dumbledore? What if he's already killed them both ..."
"I'm sure that is not the case. Now. Please would you go and ask the rest of the order to come over here?"
James walked back over to where the rest of the Order of the Phoenix was encamped and kicked a rock. Several looked up. He said sullenly, "Dumbledore wants us."
"Is it time to go?" Andromeda sniffed. As Sirius' only decent cousin – probably the only one not in Voldemort's army and the only one he would bother to talk to – she was as worried as James was about him. James shrugged. "I don't know; he didn't say."
They all walked back to Dumbledore. While they were walking, Andromeda touched James' arm. "You shouldn't be here. You're in danger."
"Sirius is in worse danger. He's like a brother to me. I can't stand him being in there, Andy ... Besides, what about you? You have a child to worry about – Nymphadora. She starts Hogwarts this year doesn't she?"
"I would rather die trying to get her a better future than let her grow up in a world full of danger."
James smiled. They reached the edge of the wood a moment later and Dumbledore started to speak. "A moment ago, I saw some Death Eaters leaving the fortress, leaving the gate wide open after them."
"Why?" someone asked. Dumbledore chuckled. "Your guess is as good as mine."
James suddenly thought of something, and looked at his watch. "Dumbledore, it's about three hours to dawn! Remus ..."
"Yes, that was my guess."
"So there's a werewolf in there?"
"Yes. I'm afraid so."
"You want us to go in there when there's a –"
James replied heatedly to the man who had spoken, "There's people dying in there! People being tortured! And you're afraid of a werewolf more than a hundred Death Eaters?"
"At least Death Eaters can only kill you –"
"SHUT UP ABOUT MY FRIEND!"
"STOP IMPLYING I'M A COWARD!"
"Both of you stop it! We are going in there for every prisoner. Now come on; it will take an hour to reach the castle," Dumbledore interrupted, starting to walk towards the castle.
An hour later, the Order of the Phoenix entered the large gates of Voldemort's castle. On one corner of the gatehouse, a gibbering Death Eater was crying – weeping for his master, apparently. Someone stunned him, and they continued. They split up into three groups at the stairs, one group going up, one down and once continuing to check the ground floor.
James, Dumbledore, Andromeda and two others took the ground floor. After wandering down corridors that led into each other ad infinitum, they finally reached a large set of double doors. James gave one of them a push. It swung open easily. He whispered, "I would have expected a creak."
"So would we all," Andromeda replied, applying her weight to the door and making it swing open.
Moony raised his head. He could smell humans; smell their blood and their nervousness. He glanced down at Sirius. He wouldn't want anyone dead. Still – intruders were intruders. He stood, standing defensively over Sirius' body. The animagus whimpered as his arms fell from Moony's body. Moony lowered his muzzle to Sirius' cheek and licked his face, moving down onto his neck.
James walked into the room and looked around. First he noticed the unconscious Death Eaters, and the two bodies. Then he looked over at the werewolf, apparently attacking Sirius' neck. He yelled, "Dumbledore! Quick!"
The old wizard hurried into the room and looked around. Moony raised his head, looking at them. Then his hackles rose and he growled low in his throat. Blood from earlier had dried on his fur, but some still dripped and glistened on his chin. James looked horrified. "Moony's killed Sirius ... he's dead ... my best friend is dead ..."
The werewolf took a couple of steps towards them, still growling. Then he threw back his head and howled, long and loud. James stepped towards Sirius. Moony growled at him, baring his long fangs. Suddenly, he leapt forwards. James' eyes widened and he took the only option he had.
He changed into his animagus form, a large white stag, turned bluish in the moonlight, with impressive ivory horns. Dumbledore smiled, but the rest of the Order present gasped and looked at each other as if to ask 'did you know he could do that?' Moony tore a long gash down Prongs' shoulder. The stag turned his head sharply and bashed his antlers into Moony's side. The werewolf yelped in pain, falling heavily to the floor.
Sirius groaned softly, rolling onto his side. Prongs and Moony both looked at him. Moony dashed over to him and nuzzled into his neck, lying down with his side pressed against Sirius' stomach. The animagus curled up, burying his nose in Moony's thick, silvery fur and grabbing a handful near his throat.
Prongs tentatively walked over. Moony raised his head, but the growl died in his throat as he finally recognised a member of his makeshift 'pack'. The stag lowered his head to nudge Sirius' shoulder. He reached one arm over his shoulder, half-conscious, and brushed his fingers to Prongs' head.
Prongs nuzzled into Sirius' body. After a moment of snuggling into Sirius, he thought of Dumbledore and the others, so stood and trotted over. Once out of range of Moony, he changed back to his human form.
Immediately, he grabbed his arm where Moony had broken the skin, but didn't stop. When he reached his companions, he was bombarded with whispered questions about his ability, but Dumbledore told them to be quiet. James said, "Remus isn't going to move, Dumbledore. He's protecting his mate. We can't do anything here."
Dumbledore nodded. "We will call the Ministry and St Mungo's. You can stay here, Mr Potter. The rest of you, with me. We will check the rest of the fortress for Death Eaters, and then contact the correct authorities."
They filed out, leaving James alone. He returned to Moony in his animagus form and lay down at Sirius' back, equally protective. They remained like that until the moon set and the sun rose.
Moony staggered to his feet and away from Sirius and Prongs. The stag blew down Sirius' ear, hoping to wake him. It worked. He opened his eyes and looked around groggily. He saw Moony starting to change and called, /Come here./
The werewolf complied, whining in pain. He lay down next to Sirius and allowed him to cuddle him close as he transformed. When the transformation was complete, Remus looked up at Sirius and snuggled into his chest. "I thought I'd lose you."
Sirius held him tighter, leaning back into James, who had changed back into his human form. James wrapped his arms around both of them, choosing to ignore the cuts and scars on their bodies, and lay there on the cold floor with them, waiting for the Order to return.
(A/N: Yay! Everyone's alive! And the torture is over, as is the whole evil business with Voldemort. He will NOT make a comeback! Happiness is a must from now on ... So yeah. AU or what? Hmm ... Just REVIEW!)
