A/N: - Here is the next chapter – I really do have to get the time between my updates to regular intervals! Ugh, the chaos of life! ;-) Anyhow, this is the next instalment and I will warn you that the subject of this story, the Altar of Life, will soon come into play…not in this chapter – but in the next couple! Thank you to all reviewers – and if you are reading but not reviewing then please endeavour to do both! Thanks and enjoy!

Chapter 18 – Useful Information.

"Great, so now what do we do?" Ron groaned. Neville remained silent, looking utterly bewildered, but Harry slammed his fists into the trunk of a tree, instantly regretting this action as bruising began to form.

"We have to find Hermione and the others," he mumbled through gritted teeth.

"Headmaster," Patricia piped up for the first time since Harry had arrived, "if the map has sent us in the wrong direction then perhaps it would be wise to retrace our steps and then start over, going in the opposite direction to what the map says."

"She has a point, Albus," McGonagall added, lips pursed tightly together.

"An' then we might meet Lupin on our way back. Then at least the 'ole company will be together." Hagrid continued.

"It is an extremely good suggestion – and it would, without a doubt, get us to Voldemort's lair…if we knew which way 'back' was." Dumbledore's face was weary and he looked as though even he was beginning to doubt their chances of survival, let alone their chance of success on the rescue mission.

"Let's keep moving – we need to stay one step ahead of Voldemort's werewolves," Snape raised the silver dagger he was carrying, "or they will catch up to us – most likely with double their previous number."

"Then let us move onwards," Dumbledore strode out in front, "I know which way it is to the centre of the forest and Voldemort's lair will most probably be situated somewhere in that area; if not then it will at least be a sensible place to start from."

"It's worth a try – we've got no other way to go," McGonagall sighed tiredly.

The small group of witches and wizards picked their way through the forest undergrowth and eventually came to a tiny clearing where they could take a short break. The forest was damp and gloomy and the trees were coated with frost, moss and various creepy crawlies.

After the short break, they set off again but they hadn't gone far before they were confronted by something very peculiar. There was a fork in the path they had picked, both paths being equally dark. They made to head down the right-hand one when a ferocious looking werewolf leapt out in front of them, snarling. Snape instantly raised the dagger to strike and the werewolf backed down slightly, howling mournfully at the moon. It was the Alpha male…and Lupin was nowhere in sight.

"What do we do?" Patricia squeaked as the rest of the pack emerged.

"We go through the forest between the paths; it will be the safest route to take," Dumbledore answered sharply. There was a growl from behind Snape and the Potions Master whipped round and plunged the dagger down without a second thought, missing the werewolf by mere inches as it leapt to the side to dodge the attack. Said wolf glared indignantly at Snape, almost seeming to scowl.

"For Merlin's sake, Lupin, sneaking around like that is dangerous!" Snape hissed. Looking decidedly sullen, Lupin pricked up his ears and pounced on the other werewolves, taking down the Alpha male and the Sikla (weakling) at the same time, killing the weaker one in seconds. The Alpha was enraged by this outsider's daring attacks on him earlier and reared up, smacking Lupin and sending him sprawling across the ground, whimpering. The Alpha licked his lips hungrily and advanced on the fallen wolf, readying himself to kill Lupin. He lunged forward to strike at high speed but Snape was faster. Recognising the situation as beyond Lupin's control, he flicked his wrist and the dagger soared through the air at lightning-bolt speed and straight into the heart of the Alpha male, who continued towards Lupin. Snape cursed under his breath and sent the killing curse at the Alpha male, killing him instantly. The other werewolves made a hasty retreat as Lupin remained still on the ground.

"Severus, you used the killing curse!" McGonagall exclaimed.

"The dagger wouldn't have been fast enough," was Snape's short reply. Hagrid had now knelt by Lupin's motionless form; the Defence teacher's wolfish body unmoving save for the occasional quivering of his fur as the wind swept through it.

"Remus, I am sorry about this," Dumbledore sighed as Lupin stirred slightly, "but we need to keep moving and we could use your help." He waited for a sign from the werewolf and Lupin wagged his tufted tail solemnly as he got to his feet. He then glanced at Snape curiously,

"Now we are even; that was in payment of the debt I owed to the werewolf who saved my life a while ago. We are even," he broke off sharply. Lupin's eyes showed that he understood and he bounded off to scout ahead.

"Did you see how fast Snape reacted?" Ron said disbelievingly as he, Neville and Harry hung back a little with only Hagrid walking behind them.

"It was scary – Snape used a killing curse!"

"Not just that," Harry whispered, "he broke the law to save Lupin's life…"

"Whatever you say abou' Professor Snape, it ain't all 'onest, what you're being told, and he ain't all bad – he owed his life to a werewolf but, as the poor creature is dead, he paid back 'is debt to Lupin an' now he's not in debt anymore," Hagrid explained, lowering his voice so that the Potions Master wouldn't hear them discussing his actions.

"But still, he moved so fast," Neville murmured.

"I actually thought I saw a flicker of anger on his face," Ron added.

"Ok, now I'm sure you're seeing things!" laughed Harry, patting Ron's shoulder. The three boys chuckled and Hagrid guffawed loudly.

"Quiet, Hagrid! Do you want to get those filthy werewolves back on our trail? Or do you want to be confronted by you-know-who instead?" snapped Snape, whipping round to face them. Hagrid instantly silenced and the group continued to move swiftly through the dense forest. A sudden rustling caught their attention and Lupin emerged from the shadows, tugging at Dumbledore's robe with his teeth to get them to follow him. The group followed, albeit slightly reluctantly at first, and Lupin led them to a clearing where, in the centre of the clearing, there stood a huge stone altar. Lupin darted round to the opposite side of the altar and howled into a crack in it. The stone structure sank down into the ground and a Portkey rose up. The Hogwarts party stepped forward, all placing a hand on the portkey. Within seconds, they had been transported to a dingy room; Voldemort's lair.

"REPORT!" Pettigrew bellowed as he marched into the room, threatening Lupin with his silver hand; the rest of the group had dived out of sight when they heard the door opening. Growling, Lupin raised a paw and slashed at Pettigrew's left leg, "Moony…" the small, balding man hissed venomously, "you will not escape this time – MASTER!" he called.

"Wormtail, what is it?" Voldemort roared as he burst into the room in a shower of green flames.

"It's Remus Lupin, my lord – he has found out hideout!" Pettigrew pointed frantically at the werewolf, who was now crouched in a defensive position, a menacing growl emitting from his jaws.

"Lock him up!"

"Can't I kill him?" whined Pettigrew.

"Not until we've caught the rest of the group – besides, it's one less 'person' to defend Hogwarts!" Voldemort cackled and was gone in a flash. Eyes shining hatefully, Pettigrew drew out a silver dagger and Lupin backed off, snarling as he did so.

"Come with me, Moony, or I kill you…" Pettigrew trailed off, sounding as though he would enjoy the second option a lot more than the first. Casting a last warning look back to the hidden teachers and students, Lupin followed Pettigrew out of the room and within five minutes, the sound of Wormtail's heavy footfalls had disappeared and the room was silent once more.

"I hate him!" Harry snapped, "And how can Professor Lupin give himself up so calmly?"

"Because if he didn't then Pettigrew would have killed him and we would all have most likely been discovered and disposed of," McGonagall replied shortly, pursing her lips. They were worried about Voldemort's remark concerning 'one less person to defend Hogwarts' and desperately tried to figure out what it could mean and what his immediate plan was.

"I get the distinct feeling that Voldemort is going to attack Hogwarts in the near future," Dumbledore sighed solemnly.

"What do we do, Headmaster?" Snape asked, sheathing his silver dagger and pulling his wand out, readying himself for a duel if they were attacked.

"And what about Remus? Are we to abandon him?" Patricia piped up.

"We will have to split into two parties. Patricia, you and Hagrid will search for Remus – the rest of us will investigate Voldemort's plans. Hagrid, you have a silver dagger, I believe?"

"That I do, Headmaster – although I don' really want to carry it."

"It will be necessary protection. Now, go!"

"How long do you think it will be before we are discovered?" Ron gulped as they crept along the dark corridors of Voldemort's lair.

"Well, Lupin wouldn't give them any information even if he was able to speak at this moment in time; we will be extra cautious and I trust Patricia and Hagrid to stay out of sight. So, with all hope, we shall try to avoid that scenario." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he spoke.

"Headmaster, I can hear something…" Snape trailed off.

"This is not good – we're trapped with nowhere to hide if they come in here," McGonagall clasped her hands together nervously, "not good at all."

"We need to keep moving – and quickly!"

"Keep going? And leave Professor Lupin at the mercy of Pettigrew," Harry spat Wormtail's name as if it were the most poisonous thing on the planet.

"Harry, we have no choice. We have people looking for Remus – our job, however, is to find Voldemort's plans for Hogwarts. Albus, where to next?" McGonagall looked expectantly at the Headmaster.

"Let us follow the corridor until we find some sort of clue," Dumbledore decided.

"Headmaster, I've found something!" McGonagall called from a little way down the corridor.

"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore led the party into the room McGonagall had entered into. She was poring over a piece of parchment, face pale and lips pursed with a deep frown line etched across her forehead.

"It's the plans, Headmaster – the plans to attack Hogwarts!"

"What?" Snape growled menacingly. Harry shot a nervous look at his teachers and fellow students.

"What does it say, Minerva?"

"They plan to attack Hogwarts at midnight tonight and that's less than three hours from now as it is already a half-past-nine!"

"We must get back to the school at once," Snape sighed, "or it is doomed."

"What about the others? Hagrid, Professor Lupin and Patricia?" Ron cut in angrily.

"They will find their own way back – they are more than capable of looking after themselves."

"You think they will find Lupin?" Ron then muttered to Harry, who shrugged.

"I trust both of them, Hagrid especially, and they won't want to fail Dumbledore…"

"What are the specific plans?" Snape asked McGonagall as he too began to study the map of the school and the plans to attack it.

"They plan to send the Dementors to stand guard at the perimeter and send the werewolves into the forest, although several will be left here. Death Eaters into the building and then a final purge of the building with the Dementors if there is a lot of resistance."

"So, you have found my plans…how fitting considering that I have found your spy…" Voldemort cackled harshly as he slammed the door shut having walked silently into the room, "and I see you have also led young Mr. Potter to me – it seems to be my lucky day!"

A/N: - So…it seems they have been caught – but which of the three 'spies' is Voldemort talking about? You'll have to wait until next time although I'm sure you'll be making your own guesses as to who it is. Also, I will warn you now that there is a lot of suffering in the next chapter for our characters and I am glad to say that we will be back at Hogwarts very soon…after some nasty setbacks! I will say no more here – Review please and then look out for the next chapter – which is going to be a significant amount longer!