They walked through the hallowed halls of the castle. A hooded couple walked, behind a man with surprisingly greasy hair, and a rather large hooked-nose. The man threw open the doors to an impressive looking hall, and before he could say something a soft voice spoke out.
"Sanctuary."
A gasp came from a woman somewhere inside of the room. And an ancient man spoke to the two cloaked figures.
"Why asketh you for sanctuary?"
The soft voice spoke once again as a reply to the man.
"To shield us from our foes."
And once again the sage voice spoke out.
"Do you come bearing harm?"
Two voices replied now, in lieu of just the one.
"We come bearing no harm."
And once more the old voice spoke out.
"I promise to honour the age old ritual of sanctuary."
Two voices responded in unison.
"As do we."
A jolly laugh came from inside the room. It was the old man who had spoken before. "Now that that's out of the way… Would you like to sit down to eat?
"No thank you headmaster," said a soft feminine voice, "We've just flown a long way and are in need of a rest."
"Well then, Severus will show you to your room. I'm afraid that we only have one room dedicated to this purpose. I assume this will be alright?"
"Of course it will headmaster. Thank you."
They walked through the corridors in silence until they got to a non-descript door near the dungeons.
The hook-nose man turned to them and hissed. "Look, I don't know who you are, or why you are here. But I don't trust you, rest assured that I will be watching you. You will slip up sooner or later, and I will find out who you are."
A soft yet deadly voice spoke. "And rest assured Severus that we will be watching you, and when you slip up, we will be sure to reveal what you are to the world."
"You will address me as Professor Snape while under this roof."
"Well then Professor, watch your step." Hissed the voice.
"I will not be threatened, especially not from the likes of you." Said the man, with one of his patented glares.
"I don't make threats- I make promises." Was the response.
The man was just to about to retort with a scathing comment when another man walked addressed him. This man was quiet, and seemed to have a melancholy disposition. "Severus, it is time." He said quietly. And it became apparent that he didn't like this man at all.
"Lupin! Can't you see that I'm busy right now?!?"
"The headmaster sent me to get you Severus. He wishes that you are there when it starts."
By comparison Professor Snape seemed to be a raging volcano.
"And I suppose you had nothing to do with it. Is it perhaps that you're lonely Lupin? Lonely without your little mutt to keep you company?"
The two men were so busy with their conversation that they didn't notice that one of the cloaked figures being held back forcibly at this last comment.
The man addressed as Lupin sighed. "I apologize Severus."
A response was hissed back. "It's too late for apologies now Lupin. Now get out of my way. The headmaster has requested my presence."
With that the greasy-haired man turned and walked back down the corridor. The quiet man watched him go. And when Snape was out of sight Lupin turned back to the pair.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. Severus is- well, he's always been like that."
The feminine voice responded. "It's alright Mr. –Lupin, is that right?"
The man looked at the ground. "Yes. That's right. Say, I have something to ask you, but I'm behind schedule. You don't mind if I come back later do you?"
"Of course not." Responded the second of the two. With that he turned around and walked into the room.
This left the second voice of the two to respond. "I'm sorry about my friend, James, he's having a hard time of things. I'm Andrea."
"Nice to meet you Andrea. You may call me Remus."
"Oh I couldn't do that Mr. Lupin. I'll see you later." And with that she entered the room as well.
Remus stood outside the room for a few minutes looking down at the ground. With a sigh he left.
Could it possibly just be a coincidence that this boy, this James, just sounded like Lily when she was angry?
Inside the room the atmosphere was tense. Ginny sat down beside Harry and gave him a short hug. "Calm down Harry. You know Snape was just trying to get at Lupin. You shouldn't let it get to you."
"You try being calm when that man insults your parents and yourself at every time possible. And then he insults your dead godfather. He's not here to defend himself anymore!" With that the anger just kind of wore off and Harry just sat there staring into space.
After about five minutes Harry was still staring into space, and Ginny was getting a bit worried. "Harry," she inquired timidly, "Are you alright?"
He spoke weakly, "I'm just so angry Ginny, it swells inside of me at the most inopportune of moments and I just want to hurt something. And when the emotion is gone I just feel worn out and sick. I don't know what's wrong with me Ginny. I think I'm going crazy."
"It's okay to cry Harry." Advised Ginny.
"No Ginny, it's not okay to cry. I can't be weak, I have to be strong. Strong for the world, the world that I have to save. The world that has been forced onto my shoulders. The world I don't want!"
"You might not want the world Harry, but it wants you. Think of all the children that will get to grow up with their own parents, because you do what you're destined to do. You may not want to do it. But that's life. We all have to do things we don't want to."
"I didn't chose to be Harry Potter." Harry began vehemently. But Ginny soon cut him off.
"And I didn't chose to be Ginny Weasley." Ginny yelled.
"I never wanted to be any one special."
"And I never wanted to be Ron's little sister."
Red patches of anger appeared on Harry's cheeks. "I never asked to be attacked by Voldemort!"
Ginny laughed at him and hissed out a final response. "And I never asked to be taken into the Chamber."
They both looked at each other and sat back on the bed. After a few moments it became obvious that neither was going to apologize. When things started to get awkward like this they would bring up sustenance.
"When was the last time you fed Harry? Before we left?"
"That sounds about right. When was the last time you fed? Before we left?"
"I think so."
A few minutes later Ginny returned with two goblets, full to the rim with a deep crimson liquid. She looked excited. "Can't you smell it Harry? It smells wonderful doesn't it?" She handed Harry one of the goblets.
Harry smelled the contents of the goblet, and after a few seconds took a taste. With the niceties out of the way Harry quickly drank the contents of the elaborate cup and placed it down beside him. He watched Ginny while she slowly finished the contents of her goblet.
He was just noticing the flush on her pale cheeks when there came a knock at the door. Harry stood up, and hurried to the other side of the room. He opened the door and there stood Remus Lupin. He was quickly beckoned into the small chamber and given the only chair.
Harry sat down on the bed and looked at him. Ginny sat beside Harry and they both looked at Remus.
Remus was the first to actually speak. "I'm going to lift my wand and cast a silencing charm on the room. I will not hurt you."
With the charm spoken Remus soon took over the conversation. "Now, thing is going to take awhile. And none of us are going to like the outcome. So I suggest you get over it now. Both of you."
He turned to Ginny. "I'll start with you Ginevra. Your parents are both very upset with you, and are definitely going to be a lot more upset with you when they see you. Where did you get the money for those clothes? And what did you do to your hair?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak. "No Harry," said the older man, cutting him off. "I'm speaking to Ginevra at the moment.
"Harry bought them for me." Answered Ginny very softly. "But I did nothing to my hair. The hair was none of my doing."
The werewolf was silent at this admission. He pursed his lips and looked at Harry angrily.
"As for you Harry James Potter. I don't know why you left, and I don't want to know why. You're like your mother, I'm sure your reasons made sense enough to you."
"Don't speak to me about my mother Mr. Lupin. I never knew her, so I don't know whether to believe you or not."
"Do you think I'd lie to you about something this important Harry? Would I lie to you about your mother? One of my best friends?"
"I don't know." Admitted Harry. "But seeing as I don't know you either I couldn't be the one to answer that."
The adult looked away stung. "There's a time and a place for this Harry and it isn't here." Remus said his volume rising. "I don't want to know why you left, I told you that. I'm trying to instil upon you the seriousness of your actions. What if you had been caught?"
"I told you in the letter. I have an anti-tracking potion with me, no one was going to find me."
"I don't think you get it Harry. I don't think you get it at all! If you don't learn to control your emotions you're not going to be of any use in the war."
"I'm working on that Professor. But my work is going to be wasted if you don't stop yelling at me." Responded Harry leaping out of his seat, the volume of his voice also increasing.
Things were already getting out of control. Both were yelling at each other.
"How many more people are going to have to die before you realize this is real?!?" Yelled Remus.
For Harry this was the last straw. "I had to die you jackass!"
Remus sunk to his knees at the realization of what he had just said. "Oh Jesus Harry, I didn't mean it. You know that."
Harry's response was barely audible. Barely above a whisper. "No, I don't think I do. Now get out."
"Harry, please!"
"I made an oath Mr. Lupin, don't make me break it. Get out."
A staring contest ensued for the next few moments, and when it became painfully obvious to Lupin that Harry wasn't going to back down he turned and left the room.
"By the way Lupin," said Harry in a painfully cold voice, "I would suggest not informing the Headmaster that I am here under the ancient rite of sanctuary."
The aforementioned werewolf just continued on his way out of the chamber. The feeling of pain coming off the man was so strong that they could taste and smell it.
' Pain,' reckoned Ginny, 'smells a lot like fear.'
Remembering that this was not a time for reckoning and for deep thoughts Ginny went to comfort Harry.
"Harry-"
"Just don't Ginny. I did what I had to do."
"But-"
"Don't."
The room fell into an awkward silence. At once, spontaneously even, Harry walked over to a desk and started writing a letter. He wrote furiously for a few moments, then quickly tied up the parchment and sent it to some unknown recipient. He left the room then, and after a few minutes of the water running Harry emerged wearing black silk pyjama pants.
Not making any eye contact Harry went to bed. After a quick shower Ginny did the same.
It was chilly the next morning as the two went for a walk around the Hogwarts grounds. An almost full circle around the lake went by, when the screech of an owl was heard over the forest. Lifting his arm up, Harry deftly caught the weight, which was Hedwig. She appeared to have a rather large package with her. Harry ripped open the box and stared amazedly at the contents.
"What is it?" Ginny urged. And as a response Harry handed her a rather cryptic note.
'A promise made is a promise repaid.'
A.N:We'll just leave this here. Thanks again to all my reviewers. Ta.