Chapter Two
As the dog slumped to the ground, the wolves moved forward. It was obvious that without their help, the last loyal member of the werewolf's pack would die alone and without anyone knowing that there was a chance to save him. With the ways that the creatures had of knowing these things, they knew that people would care about whether he lived or died.
The alpha female was the first to step out of the surrounding forest. Ringing in her mind were the screams and howls made by the werewolf every month as he mourned his lost pack. The wolf pack had wanted to go to him and be there for him, but they knew that it wasn't them that the werewolf needed.
She paused beside the dog and then gently nudged him with her nose. There was a slight whimper. That was encouraging. There was a chance that they could get him close enough to the castle for someone to find him. But he had to get up for she could not drag him the required distance.
Wake up, loyal friend. The words registered on Padfoot's subconscious and very slowly he opened his eyes. We will help you get close enough to the castle to be found, but you need to be on your feet in order to do so. Come. With a great effort and putting most of his wait on the female wolf and her mate Padfoot slowly gained his feet.
With very slow, painful steps, Padfoot managed to move along the path towards the edge of the forest. He knew that it wasn't very much farther and he would be in range of the Map. If anyone was watching it they would be able to find him. With a tremendous effort he made it the last few feet and sank into unconsciousness once more.
Harry was not having a good day. Of course any day that started with double potions in the icy dungeons was never a good day. He could not keep his mind on the potion that he was supposed to be making and he was lucky that nothing had gone wrong so far. Then he felt his head hit the desk beside his cauldron and fell into a dream.
He was somewhere that looked very much like a medieval dungeon. Complete with chains, whips, and a rack. ON one wall, there were two shadowy figures chained and tortured. He moved closer as if to see who they were and the scene changed.
He was now on the edge of the Forbidden Forest and was watching as if it was a scene from a movie. There coming out of the forest was a large black dog supported on both sides by wolves. Trying to maintain his balance, he saw the dog fall to the ground.
Harry jerked awake. It was just a dream, he told himself. Sirius is dead. No, it wasn't a dream, he corrected, it was a vision given him by Voldemort to lure him outside the anti-apparation wards of the castle, well he wasn't buying it. Not this time.
"I'll prove the vision wasn't real," he muttered to himself and he didn't see the look of concern on Ron's face. He pulled out the Map and muttered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." As the lines of the Map drew themselves on the parchment, he heard Ron ask, "Harry, what are you doing?" He didn't answer. Then a shriek of surprise and joy filled the potions classroom as Harry stood to his feet so fast, that he overturned his cauldron. Without a backwards glance he ran from the room.