Hey all. Here's chapter seven for you. It's true, we are approaching the end (sniff sniff). I've enjoyed writing this so much, and I'm going to get as many chapters as I can out of it. Well... enjoy!

Disclaimer: Sheesh! If you care about the disclaimer that much, check out one of the previous chapters. (Just kidding!)

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... Chapter Seven! (Just thought I'd build up the dramatic tension, there):


Chapter Seven: Promises Remembered

Remus Lupin stepped cautiously into the large, circular room, hoping to find an unhurt Harry Potter. He was extremely nervous about what he might find instead and was careful to tread with a great deal of caution, keeping his eyes out for any possible danger.

The circular room was dimly lit, and though it was beautiful, it had a strange, cold feel to it. It reminded Remus of a visit he had made to Azkaban many years earlier, a trip he had tried hard to forget. The memories made him somewhat uncomfortable, but one good thing came from them: they kept him alert and wary.

Scanning the room, he noticed that, all around the perimeter of the circular room, barred cages, not unlike the one he had spent the night in, were filled with eerie, black hooded creatures.

He shivered. That accounts for the Askaban-esqe feeling in here, he though. Voldemort's keeping pet dementors in this building.

Except for the cages, Remus thought the room to be empty, until closer inspection revealed a body huddled in the center of the room. Remus, walking as quickly as was possible for a werewolf the morning after an extremely painful full moon, hurried to the huddled form, hoping against hope that it was Harry, and that he was all right.

It is Harry! Remus thought, his heart leaping. Tonks and Moody followed slowly and cautiously, worried for the safety of everyone in the room.

Remus knelt down next to Harry, his fingers searching for a pulse. He found one and sighed with relief.

"It's all right," he whispered hoarsely, more to himself than to anyone else in the room. "He's alive. Dementors have always affected him more strongly than any one else I know."

"Because of his past," Tonks added, nodding sadly.

"I'll revive him," Moody said, performing the spell for the second time that morning. "Ennervate!"

Harry sat up, gasping, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. "What happened?" he asked, taking off his glasses to wipe them down, too.

"That's what we were wondering, Harry," Remus said calmly, although he felt far from calm.

"I don't remember much," Harry said. "I was going for a walk to get away from the Durselys, when I heard something in the bushes. I though I saw a rat, but it was gone before I could find it again. By the time I turned around to start walking again, some one stunned me. When I woke up, the Dementors were all around me. You know how the affect me, Professor," he added to Remus, who nodded. "Do you know who could have stunned me?"

"I think I have a pretty good idea, Harry," Remus said, thinking carefully. "You said you saw a rat. Well, so did I."

Harry's eyes lit up with recognition. "Pettigrew!" he shouted angrily. "I should have known. I'll kill that rat! If I had know what a rat he really was, I never would have insisted we bring him back up to Hogwarts."

"You can't blame yourself, Harry," Remus said, comfortingly. "You didn't know."

"I should have," Harry said, turning and looking at Remus for the first time. "Professor!" he cried. "What happened? You look terrible."

Remus chuckled, almost drily. "Why thank you, Harry."

"I'm sorry Professor," Harry stammered, blushing. "It's just that you look like you were attacked by a rampaging hippogriff, or something."

Tonks grinned. "He might as well have been, Harry. That's what happens to werewolves without their wolfsbane. It didn't help that we encountered about thirty Death Eaters on our way down here. Speaking of which, how do we get out of here?"

At that moment, a huge creaking sound was heard, like that of rusty iron. Remus head snapped up as he looked around, almost wildly. What he saw only contributed to the general feeling of despair.

Many (too many to count) of the black hooded figures swooped down towards the group, their rattling breaths echoing off the walls of the circular room. The Dementors had been released.


Remus could not remember a time when he had felt more helpless. He fought to hold on to any good feelings that he had possessed upon finding Harry alive and unhurt. He felt himself slipping, getting dizzy, the edges of his vision becoming foggy, as if he were in a dream.

Suddenly, he was a boy again, swimming in the lake near his house. The water was cold, and he felt the telltale signs of muscle cramps, first his arms, and then his legs. Gravity was dragging his skinny body farther and farther towards the bottom. He fought to surface, pushing with all his strength, but his limbs simply would not cooperate. He was about to die, right then and there. He felt himself losing consciousness, his life almost over.

But suddenly, he was on the hard ground again. He pushed himself up into a standing position. As he did so, he heard growling behind him. He glanced behind him and saw a pair of golden eyes stalking towards him, growing steadily closer. He whipped around and began to run with all his might. He ran and ran until he thought his lungs would burst, his chest heaving, his legs aching. He stumbled and fell, the beast advancing on him. Remus shielded himself with his arms, willing the wolf to leave him alone. Instead of walking away, it drew closer. Remus could feel its hot breath on his arm. He cried out as it sunk its teeth deep into his flesh, piercing skin and snapping bone.

Then, Remus was running again, this time in a dark, gloomy forest. He tripped over a root and fell, gasping for breath. He could feel Voldemort getting closer, advancing on him. "No," he moaned covering his face with his hands. "No!" Heavy breathing, red eyes narrowed to slits, the barrel of a gun pressed to his head, loaded, undoubtedly, with a silver bullet. He would not comply, thought. Voldemort could kill him, but he would not use him to get to Harry. He closed his eyes, steeling himself for the gunshot that would end his life.

The scene changed again. Remus sprinted towards the ruins of a house. People surrounded the ruined structure, most weeping but some simply standing, looking on with shock. "What a pity," one onlooker said. "The Potters were such nice people. Went to school with them. They were so young, too." Another nodded remorsefully. "It's a shame about the Pettigrew boy, as well. That Black fellow seemed nice enough, but people don't get a life sentence in Azkaban for nothing." Remus yelled in frustration and anguish. Before anyone could stop him, he ran to the house and began pulling up the broken boards, hoping he would find some life under all the destruction. James, Lily, Sirius: The Dark Lord had taken them all from him, but what about little Harry? Had he been killed as well? Remus grabbed another board, not caring that, by this time, his hands were bruised and bleeding. He was about to tear the board off when he stopped. Had he heard a baby cry, or was his mind simply playing tricks on him? As he dug deeper under the boards, the crying grew louder. "Harry?" he called. "HARRY?" Finally, the edge of a blue baby blanket was visible amongst the rubble. Remus gently removed the baby and held him close to his chest. As he looked upon the baby's face, a face almost identical to that of the late James Potter. Remus began to sob. He cried and cried, but his tears were not of sorrow. They were tears of joy, for Harry Potter was still alive. He was "The Boy Who Lived"! "I'll keep you safe, Harry," he said. "I'll never let anything happen to you. I promise."

Harry was alive! He was unhurt! Remus couldn't describe the happiness he felt. Happiness? Remus' happiest memory...

"Ex-Expecto... Expecto Patro..."

Remus closed his eyes, concentrating. He must be strong, for Harry's sake. He took a deep breath, thinking of The Boy Who Lived.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. Remus laughed happily as a silver wave of light shot out from his wand, pushing the dementors back. A silver stag dashed towards them, scattering them like pigeons. Remus grinned as a second stag joined it, trampling the remaining dementors. Remus smiled at Harry proudly. Harry grinned back.

The dementors were retreating, withering at the sight of the mighty stags. One Patronus couldn't stop them, but two could. The room was growing brighter, warmer, more life-like. The dementors shrieked and howled like banshees, but nothing could ruin Remus' feeling of peace and contentment. Remus, Harry, Tonks, and Moody retreated back towards the door. Harry and Remus kept their wands up, shielding the group. The stags could handle the dementors. They could handle anything!

Tonks and Moody held the doors open for Remus and Harry who slipped through them, letting their spells go as the doors slammed shut. Feeling drained, but happier than he had in a long time, Remus leaned against the doors, pulling Harry into a tight hug.

"Come on, you two," Tonks said, grinning at them. "We've got to apparate out of here. And Remus, I don't care what you say: we're apparating straight to St. Mungo's so we can get you looked at properly."

Remus rolled his eyes, but was too tired to protest. "Yes, Mother Tonks," he said, smiling.

Feeling a huge sense of relief, Remus held up his wand and began to apparate. Harry was safe, and at that point in time, that was all that mattered.


As St. Mungo's dissolved into view around him, Remus realized that his exhaustion was beginning to catch up with him. Tonks, Moody, and Harry looked at him, concern evident on their faces.

"You all right, Remus?" Tonks asked. "You look a little peaky."

Remus grinned at her. "Just tired," he said sleepily.

"Harry's safe now, Remus. You can rest."

Remus nodded tiredly, feeling weak, but still extremely happy. Finally, standing proved to be too much of a challenge. His knees buckled, and Tonks and Harry both leaped to catch him before he hit the ground.

"Professor! Are you sure-" Harry began, but as they looked at Remus, they saw that he was already asleep.

Smiling gently, they eased Remus onto an empty bed. Moody left to assure the members of The Order that Harry was safe, but Tonks and Harry remained by Remus' bed, waiting patiently for him to wake up.