For my original Author's note, refer to La Default chapter.

Once again, thank you to all the people that review and have liked the story so far! You like me, you really like me! OK that may be going a bit too far! Now let's get with what we came here for!

P.S: In this chapter there will use of the Wolfsbane Potion. Lupin does say in P.O.A, that it is a recent discovery, but for the purpose of this story, it will already exist. Come on, this is FICTION! Please don't get mad.

Chapter Four: The misunderstood saviour...

The next morning the kitchen that had only a few hours ago, been filled with friends, wine and laughter, had tensed up, every face donning a serious expression, as they prepared for that days task. It was rumoured that this evening, 2 unknown Death Eaters were meeting underneath the old stone bridge that lead into Hogsmeade, to exchange information. They did not know what information it was or who these Death Eaters were, and the thought pushed fear and panic into the back of everyone's mind. On the surface however, they stayed strong, busy and keen to fight.

But Carmen was by far the most eager. She didn't fear the Death Eaters or their plans or stalking dangerous men during the dead of night. She cared about one thing and one thing only. Wreaking vengeance on the men that had murdered her father. And if she died tonight, then so be it. She would fight till the end, knowing her father had not died in vein.

She glanced at a map of the surrounding area, which lay next to the bacon and coffee pot.

"If we can get the bridge surrounded from all four sides of the bridge it should be enough to bring them in." she mused, taking a large swig of coffee. She had never been a morning person. "We'd need four people at the very least." James shook his head.

"No," he frowned, "No this is only a small assignment, and we can't risk losing anymore members than is absolutely necessary. I'd say it's a one person job."

"But we have no idea what kind of weapons they may have! They very well might be expecting an attack, the last thing we should do is underestimate them!"

"She has a point." Lily said fairly.

"No!" James persisted, "It's too small a job! One of us will go."

"Four!" Carmen insisted.

"One."

"Three."

"Two."

"Deal." Carmen smiled. James chuckled and looked back down at the map.

Carmen took another sip of coffee and sighed, glancing about the dilapidated kitchen, before she realised someone was missing.

"Where's Remus?"

James and Lily swapped a quick meaningful glance. "He's ill."


"Remus?"

Sirius knocked on his door, holding a smoking goblet in one hand, waiting for a reply.

"Come in." came the hoarse reply from the other side. Sirius pushed open the door and found Remus curled up in bed, his blankets pulled up over his head.

"Here I've got your potion for you to take." He said. Remus just groaned.

"Come on," Sirius declared, "Get up!" When he got no reply, he yanked open the curtains, letting the bright, piercing light fill the room and, grabbing hold of the blankets, yanked them off the bed.

Remus cursed Sirius and let out a loud angry moan, trying to shield the light with his hands.

Sirius laughed and pushed the goblet in his face. "Come on. Drink up." Remus eyed him bitterly and yanked the goblet from his hands. He looked particularly ragged this morning. Heavy bags graced his eyes, which were tired and bloodshot. His skin was pale and sickly and he had definitely lost a pound or two. All the side affects of an oncoming full moon.

"You look terrible." Sirius told him plainly.

"Oh thank you." Remus muttered sarcastically. He took a gulp of his potion and for a moment looked as though he were going to retch.

"That bad?" asked Sirius.

"Worse. Want to try a little?" he held out the goblet.

"Uh, no. Thank you I better not." Sirius smirked. "I'm out on a mission tonight."

"Really?" he took another drink.

"Yeah, me and Carmen are going to hunt down a couple of Death Eaters."

The potion shot out of Remus' mouth and sprayed across the floor, as he spat it out in shock. Sirius stared.

"What the hell's the matter with you?" he demanded.

"C-Carmen? Carmen's going with you to capture vicious Death Eaters?" he sputtered "But she might get hurt!"

"Oh thank you for caring so much about me!" Sirius said acidly.

"No but, I mean this is her first day she's inexperienced."

"Oh I'd say she can take care of herself. I mean she took care of you didn't she?"

"But what if she can't?"

Sirius tilted his head and smirked at Remus. "You like her don't you?"

Remus shifted nervously. "What? Don't be stupid."

"You do! You're practically head over heels. Yeah, look at you, you're turning red."

"Oh I am not!" Remus huffed, his face burning scarlet.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Aw, well let me be the first to say: Remus and Carmen sitting in a tree!" he taunted in a singsong voice.

"Shut up!" Remus yelled, wholly annoyed, but Sirius only laughed harder.

"You want to write her name all over your schoolbooks." He teased.

"Look just get out will you?" Remus said, standing up to open the door. Sirius obliged and once outside leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Don't worry," he smiled, "I'll take good care of your girl." Remus merely snarled, slamming the door in his face. He collapsed back onto his bed and stared up at its dusty canopy.

His girl? Honestly! It was a nice idea...

But no! He couldn't possibly be in love with her could he? He had barely known her for 12 hours. Then again he'd never really looked at a woman the way he'd looked at Carmen, and he didn't mean when he discovered her in his bedroom...

He sighed, coming to one conclusion. In love or not, he didn't want to risk putting Carmen in danger. Full moon or not, he was going with her...


Carmen and Sirius reached the bridge at about 9:00, careful to take many backstreets and shortcuts. If they could seize these Death Eaters plans, they didn't want to risk anything messing it up.

"How long do you think we'll have to wait?" Carmen asked Sirius, as they crouched down behind the bridge. He shrugged.

"Don't know. All night perhaps. We'll head back at dawn, the very latest. They won't risk being seen in the light."

Carmen sighed and laid her head back against the wall, while Sirius was busy fumbling through his robes. "What are you looking for?"

"This." He said, producing a hipflask from somewhere inside the folds of his robes. Carmen laughed, shaking her head.

"Go on, it'll keep you warm." He grinned rubbing his hands together. Carmen sighed and took a swig, and sure enough, felt heat surge through her.

"Ah. Firewhisky." She smiled

"Like it?"

"One of my favourites." Sirius took the flask off her and took a drink, sighing with content, staring up at the moon.

"Know any show tunes?" he asked.

The hours dripped on by, each slower than the last, Carmen and Sirius gradually becoming more and more intoxicated, and it wasn't until Midnight that the flask was finally empty.

"Tell me something," Carmen giggled, "Is it always this cold in London?"

"Pretty much. But let me tell you, when summer rolls around you'll wish it was." Sirius laughed. "It gets so hot here in summer that everybody walks the streets naked."

"They do not!" Carmen argued.

"No, but don't you wish they would?"

They broke out into a fit of giggles, wiping tears of mirth from their eyes.

"I know a few people I'd like to see naked." Carmen cocked an eyebrow.

"Like?"

She thought for a moment. "Billy Idol."

"Who?"

"He's a Muggle. A very famous Muggle musician." She told him.

"I see." Sirius said slowly. "Well, I know a few people who would pay anything to see you naked." He said suggestively.

Carmen snorted disbelievingly, "Such as?"

Sirius was about to talk when the sounds of snapping twigs, a sign of company close by, sounded by the river.

They both jumped. "What was that?" breathed Carmen.

"I don't know, but it came from over there." Sirius pointed to a clump of weeds just by the bank.

"I-it was probably just a frog." He suggested.

"That's right," Carmen agreed, trying to convince not only Sirius, but herself, "Or a duck or, something."

Wrong both times. It was Remus Lupin.

By now the full moon was high and Remus had transformed completely into a werewolf, the Wolfsbane Potion keeping his human mind alive. He crouched down behind a patch of reeds and watched Carmen and Sirius intently, making sure they were kept safe.

"I see. Well, I know a few people who would pay anything to see you naked." Sirius was saying.

Remus' ears pricked up. "Don't you dare." He thought to himself.

Carmen snorted disbelievingly, "Such as?"

Thinking fast, Remus extended a foot and snapped a small pile of twigs. Success! Sirius broke off and they stared with baited breath at the reeds, Remus crouching down even lower, making sure he wasn't seen. Soon enough, they turned back round and continued on with their conversation. Then he saw it. Edging closer to the waters edge. The Death Eaters.

Remus panicked. Should he bark, howl? The two Death Eaters came closer and closer, while Sirius and Carmen remained oblivious. He had to warn them!

But it was too late. The two men swivelled their heads to their hiding spot and, quick as a flash, whipped out their wands and began to take aim. Sirius pulled Carmen back behind the bridge, as stone and debris flew past their heads.

"We have to move," he breathed, "Now!"

Clinging to each other, Sirius dragged Carmen out from behind the wall, and they ran hell for leather up the bank. Carmen could see shots of white and purple fire fly at her from every angle. Sirius turned to see how far away they were, but Carmen pulled him back.

"No!" she shouted, "Never look back!" She urged him forward until they made their way to a clearing that met a forests edge, Remus following all the way.

"All right, through here." Sirius panted. Suddenly the shapes of two men lumbered closer, wands at the ready.

Carmen swore under her breath and pushed Sirius into the forest. "Go!" she yelled, pushing back over grown branches, until Sirius struggled his way in. Once he had disappeared, Carmen pulled the branches back further and began to slide through.

But before she could make it a white-hot shot a light screamed past her head, scraping the side of her face, and knocking her unconscious. She fell into the tangle of bushes, and the men advanced.

Remus felt anger unlike any he'd ever felt seize hold of him. It pulsated through him, an anger almost blinding. Baring his teeth he stepped out from the bushes and advanced menacingly on the Death Eaters.

They let out a yell of fright and began to back away, holding up their hands in defence.

"Don't. You. Touch. Her." Remus thought, growling viciously and stalking ever closer to the petrified Death Eaters. The two men out of ideas turned tail and ran, leaving Remus and Carmen, in the waking light.

Remus dug his teeth into Carmen's shirt, being careful not to sink his fangs into her flesh, and dragged her to the safety of a nearby field. She was not badly wounded; albeit a large gash covering the right side of her forehead, blood trickling down her cheek. Remus moaned and curled up beside her, his head between his paws, waiting for her to regain consciousness.

Heaven knows how long he lay there, watching as the wind blew her curls about her face and drops of blood fell onto the grass, while he remained nearby, studying her every movement. She truly was beautiful.

Suddenly, her brow furrowed and her eyelids began to tremble. Remus raised his head and got to his feet as she let out a small moan of pain, and her eyes fluttered open. He let out an excited little moan and wagged his tail. She was awake!

Carmen sat up slowly, putting a hand to her forehead and gently touching her wound, trying to survey the damage. It seemed fairly minor, nothing a wet cloth and a bit of potion wouldn't fix. But as her thoughts began to come back to her she realised she was missing something.

Sirius!

She began to panic. Was he hurt? Had he been captured? She got to her feet and twirled about the paddock, scanning in every direction for a sign of her cohort. Nothing. And yet she could feel it instinctively. She was not alone. She could see it out of the corner of her eye. Slowly, she turned her head.

Her body went rigid with fright and her eyes became wide. Her breath caught in her throat, and she mouthed like a fish out of water, her heart pounding against her chest.

A werewolf.

Ooh! A little bit of a cliffie! I have to apologize for this chapter, really NOT some of my best and I think I might re write it. If of course you guys don't like it. So go review crazy and PRETTY PLEASE let me know what you think of this particular chapter.

Thanks a MILLION!

Amalita.