Well, what can I say, real life did get the best of me. I'm very very sorry for not posting in so long. I was laid off my job in November of last year so my days were spent in applying for job after job until I finally landed a job. Oh well, that's life and I'm making the best of it. Hopefully this chapter will make up for the delay in posting. The next chapter should probably be it and will follow this one within a few minutes. I want to finish this story before the new book comes out.
Lisa :o)
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The Value of Friendship
Chapter 7 – Desperate Hope
Remus nearly flew down the corridors and halls of the castle until he was down in the dungeons. He had to talk to Peter, it was Harry's only chance. If he could find what was making Harry and the other students ill, there was hope for a cure. Suddenly, he ran into something black and greasy.
"What the...? Severus?" Remus, out of breath and panicky, glared at the potions master.
"What are you doing down here, Lupin?" Snape glared back at him then sneered. "Looking for your old friend?"
"You know I'm looking for Pettigrew, Severus, now where is he?" Lupin wanted nothing more than to wipe that sneer off of the potion master's face at that moment, but other things were more important. He looked around, searching the doorways into the rooms.
"He's locked in the old cell further down the corridor." Snape pointed down the long hallway in an imperious way.
No matter how much Remus wanted to lash back at his old nemesis, he knew there was no time. Running down the corridor, Lupin stopped at the only cell left in the old dungeon that hadn't been turned into a storage room or class rooms. Inside was Pettigrew, whimpering and scratching.
"Peter, what did Voldemort do?" Remus asked as Moody opened the door, letting him in. Peter backed into a corner, shaking. "Tell me what he did and I'll see what I can do to make your sentencing less harsh."
"Only what was needed to be done, Remus," he snarled, still scratching at his arms.
"And what was that? Is it because of him that the students are ill?" Remus was barely able to hold himself back from putting his hands around the rat's neck.
"You expect me to tell you?" Peter retorted, he eyes wide, revealing his insanity. He slowly stood, using the wall as leverage.
Remus lost all control and went for Pettigrew, wrapping his hand around the shorter man's neck, bashing his head against the brick wall behind. "You owe Harry your life! If it hadn't been for him, Sirius and I would have killed you three years ago and gladly!"
"So, Potter is sick? Then my work is done. . ." Peter slumped against the wall. Remus started to let go of him then noticed something extremely small crawl across the man's neck. He let go of Peter immediately, but then reached down to pick up one of the bugs. Studying it closely, his eyes widened and quickly dropped it.
"Voldemort spread the disease through you... with chizpurfles," Remus glanced at the man with incredulity. "How long have you been the in castle?"
"Since the train when I came with the Malfoy boy. . ." Peter was still scratching, starting to draw blood.
"Draco..." Like a light turning on in his head, Remus understood why the boy was sick first. Voldemort's plan started to come to light. "With many of the students sick, especially Harry, Voldemort would find the castle vulnerable."
"And with Potter dead, the Dark Lord would be able to survive and kill Dumbledore," said a voice from behind. Remus turned to find Snape standing outside the cell.
"Did you know about this!" Lupin's face drained of blood as the rage of the werewolf within started to surface again.
"No, only I did because I am the Dark Lord's most faithful servant," Peter cackled from where sat on the floor.
"Peter, what disease do the children have?" Remus quickly asked, again grabbing the rat by his shirt front.
"One that attacks the lungs and shuts down the body or so he told me," the rat cackled again. "It attacks only the children." It was obvious to everyone standing near him that the man was completely insane now.
"Severus, we need to tell the headmaster." Remus dropped Pettigrew and hurried out of the cell which Moody had opened for him.
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Ron sat next to his sister's bed, holding her hand and praying for a miracle. Ginny's breathing had become more labored as her fever soared. One glance at his best friend revealed the same, but now Harry was mumbling, his head tossing from side to side. Every now and then, Ron could make out Sirius' name.
"Ron?" a soft female voice spoke, breaking his train of thought. He lifted his head to meet Hermione's sad eyes. She was sitting up against several pillows, watching her friends as well. Her survival was something Ron was thankful for. He did not know if he could have made it through this terrible ordeal without her.
"Hermione, you should be resting," He softly told her as he moved to sit on the edge of her bed. He reached out for her hand and held it gently in his own.
"They're not getting any better are they?" Hermione's voice was full of worry.
"No. . ." Ron answered, not looking into her eyes as he ran his thumb over her knuckles. "Madame Pomfrey is doing everything she can, but I don't think it's going to be enough."
Just then, the nurse came from behind a curtain that hid Malfoy's bed. She looked tired and haggard. "Well, he'll live. . ."
"Malfoy!" Ron was incensed that Draco would live while his sister and Harry might die.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley, but keep your voice down!" the nurse whispered loud enough for Ron to hear the command in her voice.
"I don't believe it." Ron looked over at Harry who was so near death. 'It isn't fair', he thought. A small voice in the back of mind whispered back, 'But little is fair in life.'
"Ron?" Hermione called softly to him, taking his hand again. "Harry will beat this. . ."
"I don't know, Hermione, he's very weak. . ." Ron continued to watch Harry until he felt gentle fingers turn his head away from the hopeless sight.
"You can't think like that." Hermione touched his cheek trying to meet Ron's eyes. "Hope is all we have now."
Just then Remus and Snape ran into the infirmary.
"Poppy, we need to speak with you!" Remus found the nurse nearby and grabbed her arm leading the protesting woman to her office.
Ron and Hermione smiled broadly, their hope rekindled.
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"The disease came from Chizpurfles that were on Peter, and the Malfoy boy brought him here," Remus told Madam Pomfrey excitedly.
"And Malfoy is beating this disease. . ." Pomfrey looked thoughtful for a moment and Remus took hope in that.
"Do you think Lucius Malfoy might have given him some kind of antidote?" Remus quickly asked Snape who was standing near the window.
"It's possible," the potions master replied, crossing his arms in front of him. "I can't see Lucius Malfoy sacrificing his own son."
"We'll need to find out if that is the case from Draco then try to duplicate the antidote." Pomfrey picked up a vial and a small knife which she started to run through the flame of a candle.
"He won't like this," Snape tried to dissuade the nurse.
"I don't care if he outright tried to kill me when I do this because I'm not going to lose another patient. . . especially Harry." She glanced at Remus.
"How is he?" Remus felt the knot in his stomach again at the thought of Harry. Pomfrey moved closer to the werewolf, and laid a hand on his arm.
"If we don't find this antidote very soon, we'll lose him in the next day or two," she answered softly. "It's best you sit with him while Severus and I try to find the antidote."
Remus felt the blood drain from his face at her words. "We can't lose him, Poppy, please hurry."
"We'll do everything we can, Remus," Poppy gave him a reassuring smile, squeezing his arm gently before taking off back into the infirmary. Remus followed, walking toward Harry's bed. Taking the boy's hand in his, he noticed the feverish heat coming from Harry's skin.
"Harry, it's Remus," he spoke softly to the boy, close to his ear. "Just hang on for awhile, all right?"
Harry turned his head toward Remus, opening fever glazed eyes, but instead of looking at Remus, he looked past his shoulder. "Sirius?" he said in barely a whisper.