Disclaimer: see Chapter One

Author note: Warning! This chapter contains a character death. Also, sorry about the "oooo" breaks but nothing else wanted to be saved! Ack!

Chapter Thirteen: Under the stairs

Remus watched Severus leave the room, helpless to do anything to prevent it. He was more than a little dumbfounded. He actually used his wand on me! On me! His hands crept to his throat. What was that all about? I think I should get help. I just didn't like that look in his eye. Remus slowly maneuvered himself to the edge of the bed. He tried to slide his tray onto the bed but it slid off and fell to the floor with a loud CRASH! He sat still hoping that the sound would bring someone. Seconds ticked away. Bloody hell! Why did I tell Poppy to go to the Great Hall for lunch? She hasn't been gone for more than ten minutes and everything's gone to Hell in a handbasket!

Remus slowly slid his feet to the floor cringing as his bare feet made contact with the cold tile floor. His body started to protest the movements as a shudder went through his body. He leaned forward a bit and stood, holding on to the bedside table for support. Spots danced in front of his eyes and he thought for a moment he would pass out.

Just as he was about to take a step Dobby appeared at his side. Relieved, Remus sat back on the bed and motioned to the elf.

Dobby cocked his head to one side, his luminous eyes wide. "Does Former Professor Lupin need Dobby?"

Lupin nodded vigorously and pointed to the empty bed beside him.

Dobby stared at Lupin and then glanced at the bed. Again he asked, "Does Former Professor Lupin need Dobby?"

Lupin nodded so hard he was feeling dizzy. His mouth worked but no sounds came forth. He was quickly losing patience with the house-elf. Pointing again at the empty bed, he nodded slowly.

Dobby looked again at the empty bed and then smacked himself in the forehead. "Dobby knows what Former Professor Lupin wants! Dobby will make the bed!" Dobby bounced over to the bed and began to arrange the sheets.

Remus grabbed his graying hair with both hands and pulled in frustration. He decided that Dobby was a lost cause and began to get out of the bed again. His body rebelled and would not hold him up. He slid to the floor in an undignified heap. Bloody hell! Remus sat on the floor head in hands. He heard Dobby come up beside him.

"Does Former Professor Lupin need Dobby?"

Lupin's head was pounding. His first thought was to wave off the elf but he realized that would be foolish. Slowly he nodded his head.

"Dobby should get Madam Pomfrey?"

Lupin's eyes lit up. He mouthed yes and nodded, smiling.

"Why did Former Professor Lupin not say so?" The elf popped out.

Remus attempted to get back into his bed twice but did not have the strength. He could have levitated himself if Severus had not taken his voice. He gave up and decided to wait for the mediwitch. Bloody hell.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Voldemort and his Death Eaters Apparated to the location that the map provided. They found themselves in the middle of a forest clearing, seeing no structures of any kind. "Spread out and search!" ordered the Dark Lord. He remained where he was, narrowing his red eyes and sniffing the air.

Wormtail returned after a few minutes. "There does not seem to be anything anywhere, Lord."

"They are here somewhere, unless you believe I did the spell incorrectly?" The Dark Lord directed his angry red gaze toward the cowering Pettigrew.

Wormtail's pale eyes widened, his hands coming up instinctively in a protective gesture. "No, Lord. I'm sure it was perfect."

"They are here, we simply need to find them." He looked up into the clear blue sky. The winds picked up, rustling the trees and bushes and billowing out the robes of the dark wizards. As Voldemort watched the bushes sway, a slow eerie smile spread across his face. Bending forward he pointed his wand at the ground, intensely concentrating. He then laughed loudly, a high pitched cackle that sent shivers up the spines of his followers. "Narcissa, my dear, you have outdone yourself." He sauntered over to a clump of bushes and pointed his wand at them swishing it back and forth. Unsatisfied, he then walked to another clump and repeated this procedure. At the third bush a frown was beginning to form at his brow. He swished his wand a little more angrily and then stomped to the last bush. The minute his wand was swished in front of this bush it disappeared and in its place was a metal box which appeared to be humming. "She was always a clever witch. They are underground and this box provides them with life-sustaining oxygen…or at least it did." He tapped his wand to the machine and it began to belch out smoke.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Draco lay on the bed, arms behind his head, staring idly at the ceiling. He could not remember when he had been so bored. It seemed like an eternity since he had seen any living being except for his mother and the servant. He watched a small spider skitter across the earthen ceiling, disappearing into a small crack. Could he transform into animals and bugs or just people? He wasn't about to try it now for fear that he would get stuck as a bug.

When Draco was learning to take the forms of others he had once taken his father's form and had difficulty changing back. He knew that his father would not be amused so he had hidden out in his room for two days frantically trying to reverse it. He eventually settled for his own form with the longer hair and then cut his hair himself. He had spent several sleepless nights then and he wasn't about to try to "go insect" without anyone to back him up. A deep sigh escaped him.

"I heard that, Draco," said Narcissa, smirking at her son from over her book. "I know this has been hard for you but it has been hard for all of us."

"I know, Mum. I don't mean to complain—"

"—then don't, it won't change things anyway. It will just make you more miserable."

Draco sat up and pulled his knees to his chest, resting his chin on his knees. "How long do you think we'll have to stay here?"

"I don't know, son, as long as it takes."

Draco glanced at his mother and saw that the air seemed hazy. "Mum, I think I smell something burning."

"I do as well. Minky?"

"There is smoke coming in, Mistress. Mistress and young Master should go up and get fresh air while Minky clears this up."

"Yes, I think that's best. Draco, remember what we have talked about."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ron's pace was quick on the path from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts. He wanted to get back to the school before his mother had a chance to change her mind and make him go home with her. He would be back at the Burrow right now if his father had not shown up and intervened as they ate their lunch.

Arthur had a feeling that Molly would try to have Ron go home no matter what and he wanted to step in, thinking that Molly was, well, mollycoddling her son and not giving him the chance to grow. It took a great deal of persuading and the promise of meeting up with Ron during his first Hogsmeade weekend, but she finally relented.

Ron risked a glance back and saw his father standing there, holding his mother's arm in a firm grip. He spun back around and quickened his pace. Ron was sure of one thing. His father would get the very best Christmas gift that he could afford this year.

"Where is he, Dobby?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she dashed into the ward with Dumbledore hot on her heels and Dobby bouncing along behind them. "Winky was supposed to stay with the patients until I got back. I haven't been gone very long!" How could I have been so foolish as to leave those two alone with just a house-elf to keep watch? She saw Remus sitting on the floor and with a flick of her wand she had him in the bed again. She motioned to the other bed, exchanging a worried look with Albus and said, "Check the bathroom." Albus went to do her bidding.

Remus gestured to his throat and slowly mouthed the word Silencio. Poppy quickly reversed the charm and Remus sighed. "Thank you. Severus is gone."

"Gone? What do you mean gone? Gone where?"

The shrillness of her response put his nerves on edge. "I don't know. He was yelling at the house-elf about his dinner and when she popped out h-he got up. When I tried to get him to stop h-he silenced me."

"He's not in there," said Albus, returning. At the grave looks on the faces of Poppy and Remus he assumed what had happened. "He's gone?" Albus sighed deeply. "Dobby, pop out to get Hagrid. Tell him to get Fang and come here." Dobby immediately popped out. "Poppy, you and I will begin a search. I will head to the dungeons and you will head to the astronomy tower. Remus, when Hagrid arrives have Fang pick up Severus' scent and join in the search."

Remus looked paler than usual. "Is everything okay? I-I guess I assumed he would just go to the dungeons."

Albus forced an unconvincing smile on his face. "I'm sure you're right, dear boy. Please give Hagrid the instructions."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Severus moaned. The pain in his shoulder was all consuming. It drove away any sort of awareness of his surroundings. He could sense that he lay on cold stone and his body shivered uncontrollably but all he could do was feel the pain of his dislocated shoulder which had been an old injury, easily re-aggravated. Hot tears sprang to his eyes. Why me? Why do I continue to live with this burden of a life? Have I been so evil that I must pay with the agony of every second of my pitiful life? Why do none of these things kill me? If there is a God he must surely hate me.

He tried to sit up but found that his hip was also injured which caused him to fall back hard onto the stone and curl up. There was not a position that was comfortable. Why do I continue to live? Let me die! Let me die! He would've taken his wand and ended it then and there if he could reach it. His right arm was rendered useless, since the shoulder was dislocated and his left could not seem to reach his right pocket. He could feel the wood of his wand against his thigh but had no way of getting it to his hand. He fumbled again to reach his pocket but his strength was dwindling. A slow death it is, then. It's no more than I deserve.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Draco and Narcissa held on to each other, coughing as they Apparated to the surface above their hidey-hole. Their faces registered shock at seeing five wands pointed at them. They were surrounded. "Draco, you know what to do," whispered Narcissa hoarsely, clutching her son's arm tightly before letting him go.

Draco's gray eyes reflected his fear. "I can't, Mother. I can't!"

"Silence!" Voldemort strode up to them, his wand pointing to Narcissa's face. "Surrender your wands, now."

Narcissa moved her hand to get her wand from her pocket. Her movements were slow as she kept eye contact with her son in a silent plea for him to do as she asked.

Draco watched as a calm resignation spread over his mother's face. I can't do it, Mother! Please! He felt his heart pounding in his ears and his breathing became more labored. Not now! Not a panic attack now! Tears filled his eyes, spilling out over his cheeks.

Narcissa suddenly made her move whipping out her wand and pointing it to Voldemort. "Avada Kedavra!"

Voldemort was not surprised at all and called out his curse simultaneously. "Retroago!" The reversal curse caused Narcissa's death curse to be thrown back at her, the green bolt striking her hard in the chest. Her eyes widened as she collapsed to the ground.

"MOTHER!" Draco screamed and dropped to his knees at his mother's side, taking her limp hand in his. He bowed his head as silent tears shook his shoulders.

Voldemort's red eyes narrowed. "It was her own fault for trying such a foolish thing. Come now, Draco. Don't you try anything foolish." He motioned to Wormtail who yanked the boy up by his arms.

"LET GO OF ME YOU BASTARD! YOU'LL PAY—YOU'LL ALL PAY!" Draco kicked the former Marauder hard in the shins as he pulled away and then in the same instant he Apparated out of sight.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Fang searched the corridors of the castle. The lunch period had ended and the students were back in class. The large dog climbed up and down the stairs repeatedly, sniffing loudly. Hagrid and Dumbledore watched the dog intently.

Hagrid watched the puzzling behavior. " Uh, 'e must've been 'ere 'eadmaster."

Albus nodded, his pale blue eyes following the dogs trek. "Why is he doing this? Why doesn't he go on?"

" 'e's losin' the scent. Maybe Snape cast some spell or other to cover his scent?"

"Possibly, but if he intended to do that he wouldn't have waited until he got to the stairs. I should think he would've done it at the start." Albus thoughtfully stroked his beard a slight frown on his brow. "Curious, indeed."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ron's pace slowed once he entered the castle. What if it happens again? I'm pretty sure that the body-switching spell wasn't completely reversed. He certainly hoped that was the case—the only other option was that he was going completely nutters. He reached the landing and was about to turn toward the staircase leading to Gryffindor tower when he saw the headmaster talking with Hagrid. They were looking at something down the stairs that he couldn't see. He almost approached them to ask about the spell but thought better of it. If I am nutters I don't want to proclaim it to the headmaster. He thought he would visit Snape instead and see if he would mention any odd occurrences. Professor Snape. He thought hard for a moment about his professor and what he must be going through.

It was then that Ron felt the familiar dizziness sweeping over him and a pain so intense that he screamed at the top of his lungs and tumbled to the floor, clutching his right arm and sobbing.

Albus and Hagrid rushed to him. "Hagrid, get Poppy. She was checking the teacher's lounge on the first floor." The floor shook as Hagrid ran. Albus knelt beside Ron and lay a hand on his forehead.

Ron's eyes opened and he blinked several times. "Where am I? How did I get here?"

"You're lying in the hallway, Ron. Just relax. Are you hurt? You were screaming in pain."

"Ron? Wait, did you say Ron?" Severus looked at the freckles on the young boy's arms. "Why does this keep happening?"

"Did you hit your head, son?"

Severus arched an eyebrow. I am back in this boy's body. How? Why? He sat up and ran a hand through the wavy red hair.

"Perhaps you should stay here on the floor until Madam Pomfrey arrives. Did you hurt yourself?" Albus asked.

"I feel fine, fit as a fiddle." He stared numbly at the floor. Severus was again tempted to keep this young and intact body but the gnawing guilt would not allow it. He took Albus' arm in a strong grip. "There's something that you need to know."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ron wept openly. He was very frightened and in great pain. It was so very dark and cold; he could make out nothing except six round lamps that—appeared to be getting closer? Bloody hell, they aren't lamps at all but three pairs of tennis ball sized eyes. What's going on here? I've lost it! I've lost it completely! He closed his eyes tightly, the sobbing increasing.

The three figures moved closer to the pitiful man. Their luminous eyes shone in the dark like round beacons.

"We should kill it quickly. It will bring others," said the first.

"It is no use, Valerian. Others will be coming anyway; Cato has seen it. We should help it." The second looked to the third companion.

"It is broken, Magnus. We should put it out of its misery," said the third.

Valerian's voice pleaded with the group, his words tinged with fear. "We are not yet ready for others. Are numbers are not yet great enough."

"Cato has seen it. It will happen." Magnus answered. "Come, Valerian, Liberius, let us try to fix it as best we can. Perhaps it will be of some use to us."

Ron felt a light touch to his arm and opened his eyes, cringing and feebly trying to move away.

"It fears us!" Valerian said in astonishment.

"It cannot see in the dark," said Magnus. "It is not as accustomed as we." Magnus waved a hand and torches along the wall flickered and then blazed brightly.

Ron flinched as the light stung his eyes. He slowly opened them and gaped, his pain momentarily forgotten. This cannot be! Where am I? What is happening to me? He saw the figures draw closer before he welcomed the bliss of unconsciousness.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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Author's Notes: Thanks so much for the kind reception for the last chapter! Did you guys hear the rumor that JKR was talking about Harry's possible fate at the end of book seven?

I'm sure some of you have already figured out what manner of creature is under the stairs, but if not you'll know for sure in two weeks. As always, reviews are much appreciated!