(8)A Repeated Day

Merida tried not to laugh at Remus fuming to himself down the hall & stared at a muggle photo of her with the Hepburn family. Her "sister", Miranda, was four years younger & Merida also had 2 younger "brothers", Jordan & then Nathaniel. Merida continued to flip through her little album, trying to sort out the last 24 hours. Remus's voice suddenly snapped her back to reality.

"NEVER!! Interupt a werewolf when he's----Lucious Malfoy?!"

Merida let her book fall & leaped off the couch. "MALFOY?! What's he doing here?" Her first thought was of Sirius, hoping he was still in bed next door & not planning to come home anytime soon. She decided to check on him but didn't know how to get past the door. There was a way, but it would be close. Hopefully, Remus would be enough distraction for Malfoy & he wouldn't notice. She became a Snowy owl & flew outside, narrowly brushing past Malfoy.

"Watch it, Hedwig!" Remus snapped at her. "Lucious! What are you doing here?"

"I have some information that may be of use to Miss Snape," Lucious drawled. "Or shall I say, Mrs. Potter?"

"Let me guess," said Remus. "Avada Kedavra?"

"Good thing you don't have your wand in your hand!" Lucious sneered.

"A problem I intend to fix right now!" Remus yanked it out & aimed at Lucious right between his eyes.

"Step aside, halfbreed! Lucious said coolly. "I'm in no mood for Maruader games!"

"Merida's not here!" Remus tried ignored the werewolf comment as best he could. "She left a while ago!" He was right even though he didn't realise it! Merida had landed at Jessica's half-open window & slipped inside. Both her & Sirius were still in their beds, one on each side of the room. Not wanting to leave Remus facing Lucious alone, she hurriedly wrote a note to Jessica's mother:

Lucios Malfoy has appeared at my house. I have an Auror with me at the moment. Please keep Sirius occupied a while longer. I apologise in advance for his upcoming "Why?" questions!

Merida Potter

"Then perhaps I may step inside & tell you instead?" Lucious raised a hand & pushed the wand aside. "You may, in fact, be more capable then Mrs. Potter!"

"You can tell me right here!" Remus ordered. "& Merida is more....capable....then you could ever imagine!"

"Very well!" Lucious sighed & took a chair on the patio. Remus sat directly across & glared with a vision slowly diffusing into an amber tint. "I have conducted my own investigation after the Order left," Lucious began. "By the Order's description of the explosion, I new something had been missed & I was right. Donoven Randaf is very much alive & well. I can not say the same for your precious Harry Potter, for Randaf killed him before causing the so-called explosion!"

By now, Remus was seeuing everything in a soft yellow. "You're wrong!" he fumed. "Harry caused it! He did it to destroy Randaf! It killed Harry too, of course, but---!"

"Hush Lupin!" Lucios ordered. "That was no explosion! It was an illusion to hide the opening of a portal of another place that very few know about. I'm one of those few! It was Randaf who caused it after disposing of Harry Potter!"

"Don't talk about Harry like that!" Remus raged. "He wasn't something to toss aside!"

"He was to Randaf!" Lucios said. "I'm sorry you lost your precious Marauder! But there's nothing you can do to bring him back! However, knowing Marauders & their revengful spirits, I'm sure you would like to know how to contact Randaf? Or.....shall I just leave now?"

Remus took a moment to think on it until a soft hoot interupted him. The Snowy owl flexed her wings & Remus noticed it wasn't Hedwig after all, but Mystique. He turned back to Lucious. "I'm listening, but don't try anything stupid!"

"I always knew you were the smart one of the group!" Lucious smiled softly. "Now, there is another active portal to this realm. Just one other! I plan to take you there!"

"Oh you do, do you?" Remus stroked Mystique between her wings.

"If you'll let me?" Lucios got up & stood by the railing. He stared out over the front yard towards the ocean, waiting for a reply.

"Why are you even bothering to tell me this?" asked Remus.

Lucious sighed & pulled something out of his inner pocket & looked at it a moment. It was a picture of Draco in Quidditch Uniform, just after he had gotten his Nimbus 2001. Goyle stood beside him & they were both laughing at something. "Because, I know what it's like to lose someone!" Lucious put the picture away & turned to face Remus. "Now really, I should be getting back to Narcissa so hurry up & make up your mind. I must warn you first, I have no intention of letting you know exactly where this other portal is! Understand?"

Remus crossed his arms. "You're going to blind me? Who do you think I am?!"

"It will only be temperory, barely five minutes!" Lucious sighed, somewhat exasperated. "So, do you want to do this? Or are you staying here?"

"I think I'll p---!" Remus began, but was interupted by a peck on his hand. "Just a moment, Malfoy!" Remus picked up Mystique & carried her inside. "What?"

"I sense no danger from him, believe it or not!" said Merida. "But what's going on?"

"Randaf is still alive somewhere!" said Remus.

"H...Harry?" was all Merida could say.

"No," said Remus. "but if Randaf is still alive somewhere, it could mean trouble later on!"

"So, you're going?" Merida asked.

"I think I should!" Remus made to march back outside.

"Remus!" Merida stared, somewhat shocked. "I said there was no danger from Malfoy but who knows where you'll end up?! You can't go alone!"

"I have to," Remus shrugged it off. "He won't show anyone else where this portal is!"

"He's not even showing you where this portal is!" Merida tried not to snap but was losing the battle with her temper. "I can't just go get the Order to come after you! We don't know about any of this!"

"I know, but--------!"

"NO buts, Remus!" Merida ordered. "I've lost Harry! Am I supposed to lose you too?!"

Remus pointed his wand at the door & placed a silencing charm on it just in case Malfoy over-heard. "That's mighty selfish of you, Merida!"

"WHAT?!" Merida half-laughed in disbelief. "Well, maybe it is! But can you blame me?"

That's Snape temper for you! an all too familiar voice told Remus.

"Shut up, Moony!" Remus snapped aloud. Merida tried not smile. "Sorry!" Remus muttered.

"It's fine," said Merida. "& you're right! I shouldn't hold an Auror from his duties. But I can't help feeling a little selfish! You're going to be alone this time!"

"You seem to have a thing for Marauding Aurors!" Remus laughed. "I'll find someone over there!" he assured, heading for the door. He stopped with a hand on the door & suddenly turned & pulled Merida into a long kiss. "I'll come back!" Remus promised as he left.

Merida waited until he was outside with Malfoy. She had a determined look on her face. "Oh, you can't escape me so easily!"

"Fine! Let's get this over with!" said Remus.

"Very well," Lucious cast a portkey charm on a rock. "But first things first!"

Remus suddenly saw nothing but black as Lucious guided his hand to the rock. Just as the portkey began tugging them both away, Remus felt his wand pocket get a little heavier & knew at once that Merida had decided to come along. Ohhhhhhhh! I'll hex her into the afterlife that comes after the afterlife for this! She should have stayed behind!

"Here we are!" said Lucious suddenly. "Now just step forward & you'll be sent across the barrier!" A hummingbird head poked out of Remus's wand pocket & looked around, planning on describing this for the Order to find later. They were in the center of a theater-sized room. Mystique scanned around, looking for the portal & found it right beside them but just as she began to fly out & away, Lucious had given Remus a small shove & they went through. Mystique found herself outside in the open sky & began flitting away looking for Grimmauld.

Remus found himself on the ground in a wide open plain, his vision back to normal & facing what looked like a Siberian white tiger the size of a horse! The giant cat stood up, hissing. Remus noticed two odd whiskers, one on each side lying along the ground. They looked like feathers & were twice the length of the tiger, forming an oblong shape around the cat, with the tips meeting at the tail's tip. The feather whiskers were striped black & white as well but ended in deep aqua green, blending to dark blue & then complete black. The two whiskers began sweeping forward toward Remus.

"JUMP!! DON'T LET THEM TOUCH YOU!!" someone ordered. Remus leaped aside at lightening speed, feeling just a hairline touch.

"Come on! Run!" the stranger grabbed Remus by the hand & pulled him along. They ran across the grass. Remus was amazed at how fast this strange man could run. They reached the edge where cliffs stood in their path. "Over here!" Remus was lead up a small hill & there was an opening between two giant boulders & a well-beaten path. "Whew!" the stranger leaned over for some air. "glad we're out of there! The prairie is usually a place for people to play games & stuff but between seasons, it's also one of the domains of the coeurl (COO-earl) tiger during it's migration!"

"What's with the whiskers?" asked Remus.

"Instant death!" said the stranger. "It's just how they hunt! I'm Landau, by the way!"

"Remus Lupin!" Remus answered, putting a hand in his pocket for Mystique. He had quite the speech for her! She wasn't there. Without thinking, Remus bared his fangs in a panic. "We've got to---------!"

Landau had pinned him to the ground. "You're one of us!" he growled, baring his own fangs.

Remus could only stare. The only Lycans he had ever known were ones he himself had infected. One question raced through his mind over & over like a stuck record. What rank is he? Remus hoped this wasn't another Alpha.

"Strange!" Landau began sniffing him over like a wolf. "I know every Lycan in this world. My pack members! You, I've never seen!"

My pack members?! He's an Alpha! Remus suddenly realised he was in an Omega position, lying underneath, & threw off Landau, growling feircly.

"I don't have time for a challenge.....Alpha!" Landau barked out the last word seethingly. "Full Moon's up in a few hours!"

Remus stared. The Full Moon was last night! Landau took advantage of Remus's moment of inattention & punched him hard. Remus awoke to find himself inside a room & chained down. To his left, was a window shaped like a cross.

"I'll deal with you tomorrow, Alpha!" said Landau. "Full Moon first! My pack has some hunting to do! Then I must find out which one bred you!"

"I was bitten!" Remus corrected. "When I was almost 11!"

"Bitten?" Landau repeated. "There hasn't been a bitten Lycan for over 300 years!"

"So your pack is also your family?"

"Yes!" said Landau.

"Look not to be rude or anything but," Remus suddenly pulled forward against the chains, bending his arms back in an attempt to snap the links. "One, I've never been chained during Full Moon! Two: Full Moon was last night!"

"If it was last night, then why is it already begining to rise now?" Landau pointed to the cross window. A small cresent was begining to appear over the mountain. "We will talk tomorrow! You're safe here!" Landau left as he added, "By the way, the chains are reinforced for our strength! You can not escape!"

"I'll KILL him!" Remus promised himself as he yanked at the chains again. He continued fighting them for another 15 minutes. Then the Full Moon rose. Again!

It was a bad night. Moony was just as furious as Remus & Remus paid dearly for it in the morning. He had more blood poolled around outside him then inside him. Remus half-awoke to see a young lady leaning over him, tending his wounds. She looked to be about 20 years old. "Morning!" Remus whispered softly, trying to hang on to the last bit of life in him.

"You're awake!" she said. "Then I can give you this! It makes your blood replenish itself faster!" Remus was about to mumble a thank you when he felt a searing pain jabbing into his left arm. It lasted only a few seconds but felt like an eternity.

"What was that?" Remus yelped.

"It hurts, I know!" she said. "Silver needles always do!"

"SILVER?!"

"It's part of the injection," she explained. "I'm Luna. Landau's my Dad!"

"I've met him!" Remus sat up, feeling much better. "It does work fast!"

"Feeling better, I see!" Landau walked in. Remus yanked out his wand.

"Your magical?" Luna squealed. "Oh, are you related to Sailuck Bris?!"

"Hush my pup!" Landau rolled his eyes. "You're only 3 years old! However, I don't care what age you are! Enough about Sailuck Bris!"

"Who's Sailuck Bris?" asked Remus, making everyone stare in disbelief.

"You're really not from around here are you?" Landau asked. "He's a rare human, extremely powerful Red Mage, knowing both black & white magic!"

"& he's the most gorgeous male in the universe!" Luna sighed, clearly in heat! "I think I'll bite him & make him mine!"

"ENOUGH, PUPPY!!" Landau snapped. "Females! When they reached 3 of our canine years, heaven help the males! ANYway," Landau shot a silencing glare at his pup. "There are legends of other realms & sometimes people fall through the Celestial Temple to this realm."

Donoven Randaf! Remus told himself. "Uh---Celestial Temple?"

"Look in the sky!" Landau led Remus passed a few more cross windows & outside. High in the sky was a swirling vortex of summer clouds, sparkling softly in baby colors of green, blue & pink.

"Wow!" said Remus.

"You should see it at night!" Landua agreed. "If you get a chance! Damn vampires!"

"Vampires?!" Remus gasped. Those wars are supposed to be over!

"Vampires!" said Landau. "They've killed two of my litter of three & my mate. Luna is all I have left. My brothers & sisters have also lost some of their family. Too top that off, two vampires are partly magical & can cast a sunshield around them & move in daytime! One is Lord Charmone, but I can't find the other one! Yet!"

"Great!" Remus fumed. "I have to find my-----er----girlfriend! & I have to watch out for bats?"

"Forgive me for saying this," Landau sighed. "but if she was out there last night alone, the vampires would have gotten her by now!"

"Merida isn't a werwolf!" said Remus.

"You mix yourself with humans?" Landau asked rhetorically. "Suit yourself, Alpha!"

"Problems with humans as well?" Remus refrained from mentioning the Veela. Veelas were no doubt unheard of here!

"No, not really," said Landau. "Not like with vampires. But we do keep are species pure from each other!"

Where have I heard that before? Remus sighed mentally. "I really should leave your territory & find Merida!"

"The whole world is my territory, Alpha!" Landau hissed.

"Then I really should leave your immediate presense & find Merida?" Remus rephrased himself, somewhat exasperatedly.

"Perhaps that is a wise decision," Landau agreed. "For now! But we will meet again!"

"Understood!" Remus nodded. "Now which direction to the prairie?" Landau pointed him in the right way & Remus hurried back. Though he was sure to be on the look out for those tigers!

Someone, however, followed Remus for several hours before taking off through the forrest towards a village. A mansion.

"Who dares enter my house?" came a man's voice in the darkness.

"Randalla, Lord Bris!" she bowed slightly. "I'm told you have an interest in Lycans?"

"You are well informed!" answered Sailuck Bris, still sitting in the shodows as evening came on.

"I have found a strange Lycan!" Randalla went on. "Calls himself Remus Lupin?" There was a silence. A long painful silence. "Sir?"

"Bring me this........Remus Lupin!" Sailuck Bris suddenly ordered. "Unharmed! I want him alive & well!"

"Yes, Lord Bris!" Randalla bowed again & left quickly.