Chapter 25

A/N: Bit of a new POV shift here, fresh characters and all. In the immortal words of Quirrel the Squirrel: I thought you ought to know. Also, remember that I started this fic BEFORE the release of Book 5, so it should be considered fourth-year AU.

Remus Lupin ached in every bone, fiber, and joint. He leaned heavily on the oak cane in his left hand, moving like an arthritic old man despite the fact that he had yet to reach his 40th birthday. With his right hand, he held tight to the scruff of a big black dog. The effort of holding back the straining animal was tremendous, especially for a werewolf only two nights past the full moon.

The odd pair hurried down a corridor in Hogwarts Castle, having apparated to Hogsmede village and taken the underground passage from Honeyduke's cellar to the one-eyed witch statue. Considering the intensive search still going on for Sirius Black and the wizarding world's generally negative response to werewolves, the fewer who noticed their comings and goings, the better and safer for all concerned.

"Sirius, if you don't slow down and stay with me, I will be forced to hex you. You know I can't keep up with you, even when I'm at my best. Which I currently am not."

The dog growled and bared the ends of his teeth. The muscles beneath Lupin's hand rippled.

"Don't you snarl at me, Sirius Black. You know I'm right." Remus paused in his dressing down until one of the castle's many ghosts floated beyond hearing range and their section of corridor was free of magical paintings who liked nothing better than to gossip amongst themselves. "We don't know who all is in the hospital wing with Harry. He would never forgive either himself or us if we barged in there and got you caught."

The dog whined and, for a few moments at least, stopped pulling against Lupin's hold. Remus tried to smile.

"I know, Padfoot, my old friend," Remus said. "I'm worried about Harry, too, and I want to get to him before-" the dog moaned pitifully as though begging him not to say it aloud, "-well, I mean--as fast as possible. We'll see him soon."

The infirmary doors came into sight. Startled, Lupin pulled back so hard and fast that Padfoot's front paws came a full six inches off the floor. The dog gave a choked yelp at the sudden, unexpected jerk.

"The doors-"

Both hospital wing doors sat at unnatural angles, each attached to the wall by a single low, warped hinge, as though blown inwards by some powerful force. In the room beyond, a dozen voice both male and female rose in furious argument. So violent was the yelling, it seemed unnatural not to see bright flashes of hex light being fired around the room.

"We seem to have still more visitors," Albus Dumbledore's voice carried through the damaged portal even as Remus dropped his cane and reached for his wand. "Remus, do come in. The corridor is a rather drafty place to wait for news."

Albus Dumbledore stepped over a section of wood that had once filled a panel in the hospital wing's door. Dragons danced over his ash gray robes, lit by the glow from magically fueled firepots and torches. The dissension, if anything, grew louder with the Headmaster's withdrawal.

"Hello there, Remus." Dumbledore raised his voice to be heard over the din. "You received my message, good, good. Ahhh, I see that you brought Padfoot with you. Despite all the noise and bother, it's quite safe at the moment," Albus Dumbledore leaned in close to whisper, "though it would be best if your friend remained in his current form for the time being."

A nod from Lupin and a soft "wrmfff" from Padfoot marked receipt of the warning.

"I see you've noticed the doors?" Dumbledore said. At the questioning looks, one from a man and one from a dog, he explained, "Hagrid was in a bit of a hurry to get back to us with the news that Professor Snape-" the dog growled, hackles raised, only to be shushed by the werewolf, "-Miss Granger, and Mr. Longbottom had returned with the ingredient necessary for brewing the antidote."

"Antidote?" Lupin repeated, a reluctant expression of hope on his tired, worn face. "But your message said--the Devourer's Curse. There is no cure for that."

"Yes, there is. The activating ingredient, however, was thought to be extinct until quite recently. They are down in the potions lab brewing the counteracting potion even as we speak."

"And Harry--how is he?"

Some of Dumbledore's spark dimmed. "Well ... that does seem to be the question everyone-" the Headmaster glanced over his shoulder at the Dursley family, "-at least everyone who truly cares about him--is asking. Unfortunately, no one seems to know the answer."

Lupin sighed and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. The werewolf had come out of his latest monthly transformation with a raging headache that never went away. Dumbledore's convoluted answers were no help whatsoever.

"Albus, would you please stop talking like an addled oracle of old and just tell me--how-is-Harry?"

"We don't know. He's not here."

"Not here!"

In his surprise, Lupin released his hold on the dog. Padfoot immediately leaped over the remains of the doors and into the hospital wing. The big black dog trotted past everyone in the room, giving a deliberate growl as he passed Fudge and the Dursleys, and over to the area where Harry's bed once stood. He sniffed the air and the floor all around the area, trying to track the scent only to come up empty. He sat down, stared at Remus, and whined.

"Mum! Dad!"

"In here, Duddy-kins!"

Dudley Dursley waddled into the already overcrowded room, his arms overloaded with pastries and sweets. Behind him, two house elves tried to remain unobtrusive as they swept up the unending trail of crumbs and paper left in the Muggle boy's wake.

Remus, who stood closest to the doorway, hastily stepped back to keep from being knocked over by the whale of a boy. Lupin blinked and stared, hardly able to believe this misshapen blob could be Harry's cousin. They truly looked to be of entirely different species.

"It's after dark! You promised I'd be home in time for my party!"

"Son, we have some rather important business to attend to here." Vernon tried to pacify his brat of a son. "Financially speaking, it is very important. We'll head for home soon enough-"

"I'm missing my party now! There's supposed to be presents, and food!"

A joyous cry from Professor McGonagall caught everyone's attention. "Severus!"

Sudden silence fell on the room. Every voice ceased in mid-argument. Even the clock on the wall muted its ticking. Everyone turned toward the doorway.

The Potions Master, still clad in slashed, filthy, foam-covered robes, stood in the archway. Exhaustion reeked from his every movement, most especially in the way that he could not stand still without weaving in place. His eyes blinked rapidly, as though unable to focus through his fatigue.

Remus looked beyond the Potions Master. Vague shadows in the hallway behind Snape marked the probable position of his student helpers.

Dumbledore stepped around Lupin, his eyes on the blue-glass bottle in the Potions Master's hand. His eyes lit with desperate hope.

"Is that it? Is that the antidote?"

"It is."

Madam Pomfrey rushed forward to accept the container from Snape, clutching it tight against her chest even as she asked, "But how do we find the boy to give it to him?"

Severus Snape looked back over his shoulder and said, "Mr. Malfoy, would you be so kind?"

"Certainly, Professor." The boy from Slytherin stepped out of his mentor's shadow and over to the small, clear area of floor where Harry's hospital bed and tables once stood. He glanced toward Lupin and said, "You might want to move your dog, else he'll get squashed."

Remus stared hard at the pale boy whom he remembered as being well on the road to following in his Death Eater father's footsteps. A glance in Dumbledore's direction caught the faintest of nods.

"Padfoot, come here please."

Draco Malfoy the pale boy as though sizing him up as his next meal. Before Lupin could give a second, harsher command, the dog stepped over to the werewolf's side. He never once took his eyes off of Draco.

With the area clear once more, Draco glanced toward thin air and called out, "Dobby. Dobby, come here."

With a loud crack and a puff of silver smoke, Dobby the house elf appeared once more in the Hogwarts infirmary.

"You called, Master Draco, sir? Is it time?"

"Yes, Dobby. We have the antidote. Bring them back."

"Oh, yes sir. Right away, sir!"

The house elf vanished as quickly as he appeared.