Chapter 20: Into the Blue
A ring of masked figures suddenly appeared, surrounding Remus before he could draw out his wand.
They bring death, growled the wolf.
"You cannot escape that way," a voice behind the skull-like mask said, amused. "Simple Anti-Apparation jinx right around the park. Its best you come quietly."
Remus pulled his wand out even as he recognized the futility of his gesture."What does Voldemort want with me?"
"You dare besmirch his noble name?" screeched another Death Eater. "Crucio!"
Expecting that attack, Remus yelled "Protego!" before the red jet of light hit him. It bounced back to the Death Eater who shrieked in pain and shock, breaking the tight circle. Remus wriggled through the small gap before any of them could react.
"Sorry," he called over his shoulder at the writhing Death Eater before he realized the absurdity of the apology. He really didn't mean to hurt the man. Now he had approximately ten seconds before they regrouped and chased after him. He would never reach the edge of the park in time.
Unleash me, human.
"Expecto Patronum!" he bellowed. An enourmous golden wolf materialized from the tip of his wand. Teeth bared, it charged at the group of Death Eaters.
Remus caught a brief glimpse of the Patronus being subdued before he the street and Disapparated.
Lily's garden had never looked safer and more welcoming. Lily and James entwined on the garden swing, jumped apart as he suddenly appeared with a faint 'pop'.
"Bad timing, Moo.." James' grin faded as he took in Remus' disheveled appearance and ashen face. "What happened?"
Lily reached for his shaking hand. "Remus?"
"Death Eaters," he said succinctly. He could stop his hands from shaking. "They were after me."
"What?!" James and Lily mirrored each other's astonishment.
"That can't be right," James frowned. "You are pure-blood..there is no reason, you never openly fought against him…"
"I am not sure whether they do want me or because any convenient wizard will do…" Remus began. He stopped as sudden cold swept through the house and its grounds.
"Strange as it might seem," drawled a voice behind him. "We did want you."
The trio slowly turned towards the voice. A masked figure leaned almost casually at the back doorway, one hand grasping a petrified Petunia Evans. The other hand pointed a wand straight to her head.
The Death Eater stepped forward dragging Petunia with him.
"I thought you might escape. In any case, contingency plans are most useful," he said cordially.
Two other Death Eaters followed the first, holding Lily's parents. And behind them…
Two imposing hooded Dementors glided out effectively imprisoning Alice, Revera and Peter between them. The colour had gone out of Revera's face while Peter was trembling violently as if he was going to be sick.
"Its too late for any pathetic attempt at defense. Drop your wand, Mudblood," sneered one of the Death Eaters as Lily made to spring forward. "Or your Muggle family dies now."
Remus hesitated as he tried to assess the situation. With Lily's family as hostages and two Dementors, there wasn't really any choice. James and Lily appeared to reach the same conclusion, dropping their wands in accord.
James scowled, his eyes hating his own helplessness. "Aren't you brave enough to take us on?" he spat.
There's no one I would rather kill more," replied one of the Death Eaters smoothly. "However, it is not for me to defy the Dark Lord's instructions. The werewolf comes with us and no one will be harmed. Resist and the Muggles die."
For once, James seemed at a loss. 'Where's Sirius?' Remus asked with a slight incline of his head. If he could somehow surprise them…yet, Remus knew he was grasping at straws. James shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
There was no choice.
"I will come with you," he said quietly. ("Werewolf?" Petunia croaked) "Let the Muggles go."
"NO!" Revera burst out. "Take me. I will go with you."
"Whoever wanted you?" sneered another Death Eater. He shoved Mrs. Evans towards the Dementors and raised his wand at Remus. Thin, snakelike cords burst out from the tip of his wand, binding Remus who overbalanced and toppled over. He gathered the dropped wands with a Summoning Charm and signaled to the other two to let the others go.
"Not so great now, are you, Potter?" taunted the leader.
A blast of green light answered him. Remus peered over the gag to see Sirius vaulting over the garden fence, wand in hand. One of the Death Eaters dropped the gathered wands in pain.
The hope that had blossomed briefly at his friend's arrival died swiftly. The fury in Sirius' eyes was the last thing Remus saw before the three Death Eaters tugged at his bonds and Disapparated.