(15)One Last Time

"Go in through there," Randalla pointed to a tunnel hidden by overgrown bushes. "It's the old river bed before we changed it's path. I'll get Rikku."

Sirius began climbing through the bushes & slid inside, Remus followed after. They found themselves in a dimly lit hallway, stretching deep into the castle. Sirius pulled out his wand & flicked on the Lumos.

"Anything that so much as twitches," Remus flicked on his own wand. "stun it!"

"& if it turns out to be Randaf, Crucio it!" Sirius added.

"With pleasure!" Remus agreed. "Then we kill it!"

Sirius nodded agreement as he stalked off down the hall, his steps making a dull echoic sound. Lumos cast dark lengthy shadows along the walls. The two walked in silence save for the slight echoing as they headed deeper inside.

"Feels good to be sneaking around like on a raid again," Remus suddenly said. "I'm half-expecting see a deer sometimes!"

"Or a rat!" Sirius sneered, ready to kill any unfortunate rodent that happened to cross his path. Remus fell silent for a moment to let Sirius relax. "Moony?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to ask you something," Sirius began hesitantly.

"What?"

"Well it's---actually..."

"You want to know if I actually ate Peter?" Remus suggested. "No! Well, I did lick a bit of his blood but that's all. I shreddred him!"

"That's nice!" Sirius smiled. "But that's not it! I was wondering, what's my status in our realm?"

"Death by falling through the Death Veil!" Remus shrugged.

"I meant Azkaban," Sirius corrected. "Is my name cleared?"

"Why are you asking that?" Remus stopped walking to look straight at Sirius. "I thought we weren't going to talk of it anymore?"

"I...see!" Sirius stared at the ground. His name still was not cleared after all. "Remus this is our last raid."

"Yeah, enough gallavanting around in danger," Remus laughed softly. "Back to the old chocolate thief after this!"

"Don't ever change, Remus!" Sirius laughed weakly.

"I....don't like your tone," Remus said. "Sirius? Talk to me! What are you thinking?"

"We'll find Merida first," Sirius replied. "then we'll force Randaf to open the portal. You & Merida go back. Then I'll finish him off."

"Sirius, we can kill him & then jump through the portal," said Remus in a somewhat worried voice. "We can go back together!"

"Go back?" Sirius scoffed. "To what?! Azkaban? A Dementor's Kiss?"

"But Dumbledore is fixing that now," Remus panicked. "He told the Ministry what happened & they found what's left of Peter----!"

"Remus if my name's not cleared now it never will be!" Sirius declared. "People need a scape-goat & those in the Ministry are more loyal to the Malfoys & Bellatrix---you know how influencial Bellatrix is! She'll always make sure I'm a condemened man!"

"Sirius, you---"

"---can't go back!" Sirius said simply. "You know that! Deep down inside you know it!"

"But...you...I...Sirius!" Remus closed his eyes, fighting back tears. He felt the comforting arms of his friend wraping around him. Remus nuzzled in deeper, knowing it was the last time; knowing Sirius was right. He could never return. Either Azkaban or Grimmalud would make him a prisoner again. "I'll stay here," Remus choked on air. "We'll send Merida home, I'll stay."

"You can't!" Sirius ordered. "You told me you promised Harry to look after her. Besides, you two need each other. You must go back.....& maybe make a few puppies of your own?"

"SEAR! EE! US!" Remus growled & began whispering softly, "Do not eat Sirius Black! Do not eat Sirius Black!"

"Shall I conjure up some butter & a bar-BQ?" Sirius snickered.

"THAT'S IT! I'm eating you!!" Remus snarled, tightening his grip, making Sirius shake uncontrollably with laughter. "You can be dispicable when you want to be!" Remus rolled his eyes.

"Same to you!" Sirius laughed. He sighed & held Remus closer. "I'm really going to miss you!"

"We'll not meet again, Padfoot," Remus sighed dejectedly.

"I know," Sirius whispered softly. "& don't try to bring Merida & her son back through that portal! It's too close to the Death Veil, We were lucky to get caught in the portal at all. I'm not surprised Lucious brought you there. He was looking for a chance to get rid of you! Don't try coming back, no matter what!"

"I'll stay away," Remus promised.

"Besides, you're not exactly welcome here!" Sirius reminded.

"Landau!" Remus growled. "I hate him!"

"Remus, he's just like you," said Sirius. "How would you act if another Alpha came snooping around your Shrieking Shack?"

"I s'pose!" Remus groaned, glancing around in annoyance, trying to avoid those eyes. "Though I didn't mind sharing it with Neville!"

"You bit the Longbottom's boy?" asked Sirius.

"Yeah," Remus admitted. "But Moony didn't mind him at all. He was a good puppy. I called him Smoke, because he was the blue-grey color of smoke."

"What was Sniv's wolf name?" Sirius raisedan eyebrow.

"Oh, the usual," Remus said slyly. "Snivellous!"

"Of course!" Sirius snickered. "Come on! We'd better get going!"

"Yeah....sure Pads!" Remus said sadly.

"Oh Moony! I'm going to miss you so much!" Sirius cried holding tightly on to Remus. "But I can never go back! Just remember, there's no Dementors or Azkaban here. Here, I'm safe. Here, I'm free."

"I know," Remus nodded slowly. "Well, if this is our last time together, let's make it one to remember!"

"Just what I was thinking," Sirius tossed his long hair back."There's the door!" Sirius followed close to the wall, holding his wand out to help lit the way. Their wands made matching shadow lengths with the few candles around the entrance. Sirius turned back sharply as he heard a clatter behind him.

"Sorry!" Remus smiled sheepishly. "Dropped my wand!" Remus crouched down to pick it up at the same time Sirius got down to pick it up for him. They were facing each other as Sirius held his wand out to see what they were doing. At the instant, the door opened & through it walked none other then Lord Charmone & Cyan! Remus & Sirius froze, staring into each other's eyes, pausing mid-reach of Remus's wand. Sirius suddenly felt a warmth around him, Remus felt it too, for he was extremly close to Sirius, who still had his wand hand above his head, next to the candles. They stayed like that in a half-crouched position, wondering if they were seen or not!

"I would like to know where Rikku sneaked off to, Cyan," Lord Charmone was saying. "Randalla's been acting strangly as well! See what she' up to!"

"She's been spending time with Lord Bris, Sir," Cyan stopped & handed a paper to Lord Charmone. "I've been following her path at night, asking poeple who've seen her. It seems whereever she's been, Sailuck Bris has been too. Their travellings are marked on that map."

Lord Charmone unrolled the map. "You have done well, Cyan! I need more light on this!"

Cyan stared at the map while feeling around beside him for a candle. He just so happened to grab Sirius's lit wand. "Here, Sir!" Cyan pulled the wand out of Sirius's hand & held it over the map.

Sirius's face went from a surprised panicked look to a scowling haunted-by-Azkaban look, eyebrows neeting angrily between his eyes, in less then a second! No one touches my wand! NO ONE I say! Unless you count Jedia, Lady Azriel, Tiffa, Gem, Remus, Sandar, Ryan, Randalla perhaps---Did I say Remus?! Wait, to which wand am I refering to again? Oh...nevermind! OW! That cramp in my calf!

Remus was having his own problems. He had clenched his jaw so tightly that one fang had slipped into his lower lip. It didn't exactly hurt but it was in far enough that it felt annoying. If I could just move one millimeter! Just one! Is that to hard to ask?

"What is she doing wandering around the Planes?" Lord Charmone wondered.

"Unknown, Sir," said Cyan. "Lord Bris has been going through all the Planes as well."

Cramp in the calf! Sirius desperatly need to stretch. Dammit Remus! Why'd you have to drop your wand?!?!

"Yes & he's been taking that Celestial werwolf with him," Lord Charmone added.

Just one millimeter! Remus desperatly needed to swallow. & don't call me his pet!

"I know," answered Cyan. "Lord Bris had better keep a tight leash on his pet!"

I really need to move---HEY! I'm not a pet!

Cramp in the calf! CRAMP IN THE CALF!

"He knows it's illegal to keep werewolves for pets!" Lord Charmone went on. "But nevermind Lord Bris for now!"

"Landau on the other hand," Cyan suggested.

MAJOR cramp here please!!!

I swear I'm going to drown if I don't swallow soon! Why can't they see us? Uh-oh! I'm getting a kink in my leg! OUCH!

"Ohhh!" Lord Charmone groaned, rolling the map shut. "I will not rest until I have that Lycan's head on a silver platter!!"

Crimped! Cramped! Crump'ed! Both Sirius & Remus were by now afflicted with the same condition!

"Yes, sir!" Cyan slipped the wand back into Sirius's hand & followed meekly after Lord Charmone.

Sirius's face changed yet again to a deeply maddened look. Thank you! Numbskull! Ow!

As soon as Lord Charmone & Cyan disappeared down the hall & their voices died, Remus & Sirius fell backward away from each other onto their backs. They remained motionless in that position for a few moments before attempting to stretch out. "OHHHH!" Sirius groaned loudly. "I thought they'd NEVER leave!"

"Why didn't they see us?" Remus asked after he had finally swallowed & placed his jaws in a proper more comfortable position. He then began stretching out.

"Must have been my mermaid scale!" Sirius attempted to stretch out his leg. "She said it would keep away those who would do me harm. You were close enough to be protected as well. OW!! I can't---can't! I can't unbend my---!" A muffled pop was heard as Sirius finally managed to stretch out. Sirius groaned & attempted to stand.

CRACK!

Remus stared at Sirius, half-amused.

"I'm OK!" Sirius winced making Remus giggle evilly like a school-girl. Sirius shot him a demonic look while grumbling under breath, "How dare he touch my wand?!"

"I thought you liked it when people touch your wand?" Remus snickered.

"That sounded soooo perverted!" Sirius was in no mood for jokes! He yanked open the door & stepped inside. The mermaid scale suddenly became extremly hot in warning but it was to late. A swarm of bats surrounded them in an instant!

"We'll leave them here until Lord Charmone returns tomorrow," a voice said in the faded distance.

Sirius groaned & shoved his head back. He groaned again as his head made a dull thud against a wall. A wall to which he was tied to. He was standing flat against the wall, hands cuffed behind him onto it. On his right, was a small window. Facing the window, on the opposite wall, he noticed Remus, also trapped in the same way he was.

"Moony!" Sirius yelled in a whisper. "Moony, wake up!"

Remus stirred & blinked at Sirius. "What happened?" He tried to walk to Sirius but found that the wall had somehow become part of him.

"We got caught!" Sirius stated flatly. "It's my fault! I shouldn't have yanked the door open so fast!"

"You always did have a "do first, ask later" attitude!" Remus scolded. "Always running in to be the hero!"

"Shut up!" Sirius snapped. "I can't feel my wand in my pocket & I think our mermaid scales are gone to!"

"That means I can't look into the city," said Remus.

"Good thing that window is on a side facing away from it!" Sirius nodded once sideways to the window.

"How would you know?" Remus scoffed.

"Look at how the sunlight is," Sirius sighed exasperatedly. "It's a west facing window. Moon City's to the south."

"& I'll be stuck in moonlight all night!" Remus stared at the floor & began pshycing himself up for it.

Sirius fell silent for a moment. "It's not full yet, is it? Great! At least on full moons you can change & your wolf can wander free in its light!"

"Full moon's tomorrow night," said Remus. "Let's face it, Sirius, Lycanthropy is a curse!"

"Oh Rem!" Sirius groaned. "We didn't mind you being a wolf! You're not cursed!"

"Oh I'm not?" Remus glowered. "Who's fault is it Peter escaped? Where was I that night Prongs & Lily died? If I hadn't been stuck as a wolf, I might have been with you & things might have been so diferent for the next 13 years! If I hadn't been stuck as a wolf, Peter would be where he belongs, in Azkaban! So go on! Tell me I'm not a cursed monster!"

Sirius heaved a tired sigh. "I hate it when you get in these moods!"

"So what?" Remus retorted. "It's true!"

"If you hadn't been stuck as a wolf, the Marauders probably never would have existed!" Sirius pointed out. "You'd be affected by Dementors. You would not be an idol for other werewolves who would not be allowed the privileges you had!"

"Only because Dumlbledore helped me," Remus reminided.

"Yes, & why? Because you're a werewolf!" Sirius declared. "Now, thanks to you, others with Lycanthropy can have a more normal life. You went to school, first as a student then as a Professor. Being a werewolf doesn't matter!"

"BUT---!"

"Quit it!" Sirius snapped. "Quit getting moody over nothing. Enough PMSing! You & your Pre Moon Syndromes!"

"Fine!" Remus growled.

"You know I'm right, Moonslave!"

"I don't care!" Remus grumbled in a bored voice. "Death-omen!" Sirius stuck his tongue out for a moment. Remus scowled sassily back. They continued making annoyed faces at each other until the moon began rising. Remus whimpered softly as a ray of moonlight stretched inside, slowly making its way toward him.

"It'll be OK, Moony," Sirius whispered. "It'll only last an hour or two until the moon crosses the window."

"I hope you never get infected with this!" Remus whimpered again as the moonlight began to cover him. Sirius could only watch as Remus stiffened sharply & groaned in pain. He suddenly arched back against the wall as much as his restraints let him & screamed. Sirius tried talking to him. He tried getting Remus to focus on him but to no avail. An hour & half passed before the moon finally left that window. Remus focused on the cieling, gasping for air. His body started to relax as the grip of the moon left him. Remus closed his eyes & went limp.

"Moony? MOONY!" Sirius screamed at him but Remus remained unconcious until morning.

Remus groaned as he blinked against the sunlight pouring into his eyes. "Sirius? Where are you?"

"I'm right here," Sirius half-retorted. "Like I can go anywhere!"

"I can't see!" Remus growled. "The sun is blinding me!"

"So keep your eyes shut!" Sirius snapped.

"No of course not!" Remus fumed sarcastically. "I'm going to stare right into the blazing ball of light! Do I look like an idiot?!" No answer! "I'll remember that!" He could hear Sirius snickering somewhere in front of him.

"So, how're you feeling?" Sirius asked after a silent moment.

"I'm fine, thank you!" Remus snapped.

"Moony!"

"No really," Remus sighed. "I'll be OK! But these restraints will break tonight when the full strength of Moony takes over. Can you be Padfoot?"

"Padfoot would break his front legs if I changed in this position!" said Sirius. "Right now, I've got my hands behind my back. But I overheard whoever put us here that Lord Charmone will be back today. Perhaps we can get out then!"

"I wonder how Merida is faring," said Remus. "I hope she stayed as a bat!"

"So long as she doesn't run into Randaf," Sirius added.

Merida had played at being a bat all night. Not knowing what had happened to Sirius & Remus, she continued flying through the basement of the castle, working her way upwards. Merida landed in an empty room far a moment & returned to herself. She was tired of having wings & needed to stretch a moment. As she walked in further, the room began glowing in a blue light. Merida noticed at the far end someone lying in mid-air as if on an invisible bed. Blue beams of engergy twisted around the person, holding him in place. The shimmering light made it impossible to make out the face.

"YOU again?" Cyan appeared in the door.

"Oh don't worry," Merida tried to act normal. "I'm just a little lost. The vampires of this city sleep wierd." She nodded to the floating person in front of them.

"You fooled me once & you won't fool me again!" Cyan made to grab her. Merida ducked under his arm & fled for the door, tripping over a lever in the floor, turning it over. She picked herself up & ran, Cyan close behind her. Merida turned the corner & immiediatly turned into a bat & hid on the cieling as Cyan went running past. Merida flew back the way she had come down the hall, past the room she had previously entered & headed for the door to the stairs leading into the upper levels of the castle.

"Sir? Sir!" Cyan hurried to catch up to Lord Charmone. "We have an intruder!"

"No, dear Cyan! We have three!" Lord Charmone corrected. "We have Lord Bris himself & his pet as well!"

"How could a werewolf get in here?"

"This!" Lord Charmone held up the mermaid scale.

"I see!" Cyan deflated. "WHAT? IS? THAT?!" He yelped, pointing to the strangest sight behind Lord Charmone.

"Must be some sort of animal out of the forrest," said Lord Charmone. "But be careful of its head! Look at all those stakes!"

The terrifying creature had massive black stakes branching out of its head. It stamped a forward foot aggressively while lowering its deadly rack. The angry red fire in its black eyes was burning deep & its black fur was shiny over tense muslces.

"Let's just hope it can't fly!" Lord Charmone became a bat & flew away, Cyan flanking his left wing.

The animal snorted angrily & stalked off, catching its branches against another lever on the wall. It kept on walking forward, turning the lever, until its branches slid off again.

Sirius & Remus went tumbling into each other arms & landed in a heap on the floor. The door in front of them raised up to let them out. "Well, I guess we don't have to worry about Padfoot!" Sirius said. "AH! Here's our wands!" He pulled them off a shelf on the outside wall. "Can't find the scales though!"

"It doesn't matter!" Remus shrugged. "Tonight's full moon! Let Padfoot lead me out & I'll be fine!"

Sirius groaned. "That means we'll have to come back here again, later!"

"No, just get Moony out & come back right away!"

"You know I can't do that!" Sirius said in a warning voice.

"Well what else can we do?" Remus asked, somewhat frusterated.

"We'll figure it out!" said Sirius. "Let's get off the main floor!" Sirius & Remus found a door behind which were stairs & hurried up.

Lord Charmone circled his castle many times but could no longer see the animal with stakes on its head. He decided it was safe to return, though he kept a sharp eye out for that creature.

"Charmone, our prisoner has escaped," Randaf told him as soon as he landed.

"Which one?" asked Charmone.

"The first one!" replied Randaf. "He's somewhere in the basement."

"Along with that werewolf, no doubt," Charmone sneered. "We have two major problems. A Full Moon tonight & an enraged creature that can use its head like stakes! I will send Cyan to the basement to take care of Sailuck & Remus. You are the only one immune to stakes, so I'll let you deal with the creature. I must warn the others that a werewolf has at last, breached our Moonbeam security!"

"Yes, sir!" Randaf & Cyan answered at the same time. Cyan marched for the basement as Randaf pulled out his wand to hunt down the stray forrest animal. Randaf found animal prints on the floor, made from mud. He followed the trail through the castle for a few hours but found nothing. Randaf stopped on the balcony & watched the late afternoon sun. There was a sudden intake of breath behind him & Randaf turned to find himself staring into those angry eyes. There was no time for wands. The animal ran into him full force, knocking him over the railing & into the river below. Randaf slythered out coughing & sputtering.

"I can't believe you got us lost!" Remus groaned.

"Hey, how was I supposed to know that room had trick walls?!" Sirius defended. "I thought we were half way across the castle---!"

"---when we were really wandering around an 8 by 8 feet room!" Remus interupted heatedly.

Sirius just waved it away with a hand. "So?"

"So? SO?!" Remus sighed. "We've been in there for HOURS!! SO we lost precious time! SO we don't know what time it is! SO I don't know when to expect the moon! SO.....there!"

"Here's the REAL stairs to upstairs, Moony!" Sirius droned. "& look out the window! It's nearly dark out!"

"You're an idiot!" Remus muttered stalking up the stairs beside Sirius. They were barely at the top of the stairs when the door opened.

"Leaving so soon?" Cyan asked pleasently. Sirius & Remus began retracing their steps while reaching for their wands. Cyan followed confidently, pulling out his own weapon, a small gun. He aimed it at Remus. "Well, I just can't allow your pet to roam around tonight now can I? What a dreadful mess that'll be!"

"Expelliramus!" Sirius sent the gun flying. "Don't even think about it!"

"Ah, Lord Bris!" Cyan sneered. "I've been longing to meet you! It appears you are, after all, a strong Mage!"

"That's nothing to what I usually do!" Sirius warned.

"& what do you usually do?" asked Cyan.

"Crucio!"

Remus's jaw slammed the floor at the same time Cyan did.

"Had enough?" Sirius asked when he released Cyan who stared in amazment. he could only nod an answer. "Never threaten Remus again....or I'll kill you!"

"Padfoot? You've got more nerve then an Allie soldier in Iraq!" Remus finally managed to speak.

"There's no such thing as Unforgivables here," Sirius replied. "Black magic is not necessarily evil magic in this place."

"Let's find Randaf!" Remus hurried up the stairs & out the door. Sirius tried to follow, but Cyan put a hand out to make him trip. Sirius went crashing into the stairs, wand sailing out of his hand. Cyan snatched it up & threw it aside. Sirius grabbed the gun & stood up to meet a bat clawing at his face. Cyan knocked his gun out of Sirius's hand, returned to human form & picked up his gun.

"Well now Lord Bris," Cyan opened his gun & added an extra bullet. "you are nothing without your wand." Cyan pointed it at Sirius & motioned him to move away from the stairs. Sirius put his hands up in defeat & backed away as Cyan stepped in front of the stairs, blocking the entrance "Now, I've got one in here for you & one for your dog! Both are silver of course, but a bullet is a bullet. So, where shall it be? How about...right in the heart?"

"Go eat a steak sandwhich!" Sirius teased.

"Hmmm, do you think Remus would like a bite of a silver bullet?" Cyan taunted.

"You'll never catch him!" Sirius retorted. "He's changed by now! I can only imagine the havoc he's causing out there!"

"Lord Charmone will take care of him!" said Cyan confidently.

"Yes, like he does Landau every Full Moon!" Sirius barked his laugh.

"That will change!" Cyan threatened.

"We'll see about that!" Sirius ran hard into Cyan, catching him off gaurd. The gun went off & shot the ceiling. "You've only got one left & you don't have time to go get another!" Sirius pulled his cross out from under his collar making Cyan scream & whirl around covering his eyes. Sirius moved in closer. Cyan jumped aside, landing on a three-legged stool standing in the corner. He snapped a leg off & swung it behind him, hitting Sirius sideways, making him fall & snap the chain. The cross fell off. Sirius made a grab for it but Cyan swept it aside with his stick.

"Well now," Cyan said. "You have no wand! No cross & no werwolf! What will you do now?" He threw the stool leg aside & pulled out his gun again, keeping himself between Sirius & the stairs. "I'll find the time to get another bullet! So long, Lord Bris!" Cyan aimed the gun & froze when he heard a snarl behind him. He looked over his shoulder & into the amber eyes of Moony!

Moony leaped for him but Cyan was faster. He swung his gun around & fired. Moony yelped & landedin front of him, motionless. Cyan turned back to Sirius with a smile.

"You've....murdered...my friend! My...love! My brother....you've slaughtered him!" Sirius looked at Moony in sorrow. "You'll pay, Cyan! Dearly, you'll pay!" Sirius stepped backwards a few times, glaring at Cyan. He slowly bent down & picked up the broken stool leg. Where it had snapped off, it had a sharp point. A stake. "What will YOU do Cyan? You've no more bullets!"

"Go ahead!" Cyan ordered. "Try to spear me! Vampires are fast creatures! You'll never hit me!"

"I will!" Sirius promised in a deadly tone. "I'll kill...you!" He noticed movement behind Cyan. Moony! He was still alive! He was alright! Moony pulled himself forward, digging his claws in the floor for a grip. He paused for a breath then reached out with a paw & sunk his claws in to pull himself forward again. He was a few feet behind Cyan. Inches! Almost there!

Cyan took advantage of Sirius's hesitation. He lunged at him, only to be yanked back by Moony's fangs sunk deep into his leg. Moony growled visciously before letting go. Cyan went crashing forward into Sirius, who fell over & hit his head against the remnents of the stool. He passed out. Cyan fell over Sirius & onto the broken stool leg which peirced him. He clawed at the stake through him for a moment & then fell over dead.

Sirius moaned as he slowly returned to reality. He felt something wet moving over his face, reviving him. He turned his face to the side & opened his eyes to see to big gold ones staring back at him. Moony lay beside him, letting out a long moan.

"Moony?" Sirius moved closer. He knew it was crazy! Moony may be nearly dead but he could still bite. But he had the chance to bite & never did. The werewolf opened one eye weakly & lifted his head for a moment when he heard his name. "Moony!" Sirius reached out to pet him. His tail wagged twice, making a soft thudding against the floor. He knows his name! He's no longer wild! "I'll take care of you; don't worry!"

Sirius picked up his wand but he couldn't find the silver bullet that was posioning Moony, making him die slowly & painfully. Sirius conjured a blade at the tip of his wand & cut himself near his wrist. He held his wound close to Moony's mouth, letting some blood drip onto his panting tongue. Moony licked his fangs & groaned. "Come on Moony! You must drink some! It'll give you energy!" He made the wound deeper & pressed it to Moony's lips. Moony tried to nip at him. "No Moony!" Sirius pushed the wolf's face back down. "Just lick it!" Moony thumped his tail once. Sirius suddenly felt a slobbery tongue across his face. "Not me! The blood!" Sirius wiped his face with his free hand. Moony whined & lapped at his cut. "There now, that's better! It'll be OK! Don't worry!"

"Sailuck Bris! What are you doing?"

Sirius looked up to see Randalla. "Moony's been shot but I can't find the bullet! I'm feeding him!"

"With your own blood?" Randalla stared at the cut & then the wolf.

"Don't get ideas!" Sirius warned, slashing himself again to feed Moony faster.

"I fed earlier," said Randalla.

"Randalla, can you help him?" asked Sirius. Randalla stared at him. "I know you're some sort of doctor! & you know more about these bullets than I do!"

"I'm only a "doctor" so I can sort out the werewolves from everyone else!" Randalla informed. "& I can have blood whenever I wish!"

"Randalla please!"

"You're asking me to help a werewolf?" Randalla asked rhetorically.

"Please!" Sirius pleaded with those puppy-dog eyes. "He's all I have left! You'll be helping me by helping him!"

"But Sail...!" Randalla began to succumb to those eyes of his! "Sail, I can't! I just--just can't---Sail! He's a werewolf! I'm a vampire!"

"So? Everything Lord Charmone told you was a lie!" Sirius pointed out. "So why not help a werewolf! Besides you owe it to him! He saved your sister!"

"Perhaps!" Randalla thought it over. "Fine! If you can find a way to move him to my place, I'll see what I can do! I'm just up the stairs & down the hall!"

"Lead the way!" Sirius jumped up & pointed his wand at Moony. "Wingaurdium Leviosa!" He guided Moony carefully up the stairs & into Randalla's quarters. Randalla set up a bed for Moony to lie on. Sirius gently placed the wolf upon it & stroked his head softly.

"Let me fix that!" Randalla quickly wrapped Sirius's cuts on his arm. Then she turned her attention to Moony. "He's very weak! I'll tell you now, it may be to late!"

"Just try!" Sirius whispered, looking at Moony's half-closed eyes.

Randalla stood beside him, inspecting the wound in Moony's chest. It was deep & close to his heart. She pressed along down his chest until she reached the end of the wound & the silver bullet. Moony closed his eyes completely as Randalla prepared to make an incision to cut the bullet out.

Sirius continued stroking back Moony's fur. He had wanted to touch Moony since the day he had known him without having to hide his human form with Padfoot. He played with the inch long dark brown fur, twisting a bit around his finger. Then, without warning, Moony flickered a moment & Remus appeared, still unconscious. "What happened?" Sirius stared at Remus lying before him. "Did you....CURE...him?"

"No," Randalla said. "Sail, the human host of the Lycan symbiont always....dies... first!"

Sirius needed a moment for that to sink in. "D-Dies? NO! He can't! He won't!"

"Sail---!"

"NOO! Oh God how could this happen?!" Sirius wrapped his arms around Remus. "He can't be dead! This wasn't how it was supposed to be! Randalla..."

"There's nothing I can do for him!" Randalla shook her head slowly.

"But...oh no! Remus!" Sirius buried his face in his friend's chest & sobbed uncontrollably. "Moony! Please---come back!" Sirius gasped between sobs. He slid one hand onto Remus's abdomen.

& then he felt Remus move!