Unwilling Alliances (Part III)

Severus slowly got to his feet, gazing unspeakingly at Remus. The agonizing werewolf shakily brought his hands up to his sweaty forehead and cheeks, trying to calm himself down. Severus gave him a few moments before he launched into speaking.

"What'd you mean, you're sure my father has Alanze?" he questioned, flicking his oily black hair behind his ears. He looked troubled.

"I – I had a daydream." Remus tried to settle himself as he spoke. "As the dream ended, I heard Alanze screaming and it signaled me into believing that she's awake and your father is trying to abduct her."

"How sure are you on this dream, Lupin?" Severus heard himself asking without actually meaning to. He eyed the door over Remus' head rather thoughtfully.

"Quite sure." Remus raised himself to his feet as well. "But what can we do if we're supposed to stay in this office?"

"Not much," the portrait of a snotty-looking headmaster snarled in their direction. The two young men looked at it, glaring.

"What're you on about? How'd you even get in this conversation?" Remus snapped despite himself. He had no time for snide remarks.

"Watch your temper, Gryffindor!" the headmaster snarled. "If you weren't so shirty… I would've told you that ole Gleenwood Hopper has a frame down in the hospital wing. If you wanted to be rational, I'd think you'd be interested in asking him to spy for you."

The young Gryffindor looked as if Christmas had came early. "Where is he?"

Severus moved about the large room, scanning the picture frames for their aliases. "Here!" he yelled after a few minutes of scuffling. "Third picture right above the doorframe!"

"Excuse me!" yelled Remus, looking straight up into the portrait of the sleeping headmaster. "… Headmaster Hopper?" he then questioned, not sure on how to address the man.

The feeble, gray-haired professor took his time to rise up from his slumber. He had a shaggy mane of gray-blonde hair and he looked down at them with firm blue eyes.

"What is it, lads?" he questioned; brushing off his fine-looking Victorian robes. "What're you needing from an old man such as myself?"

"Sir." Remus started, as Severus smirked at him. How typical of a Gryffindor to convince someone into doing what they needed. It took nearly five minutes to get the story explained, and once he was done, Severus was once again shocked as old Professor Hopper rose to his feet, and nodded at them.

"I'll help at once. I'll have you know that I started to supply our hospital wing in 1870 with real medicines… students used to get so caught up with infections – I remembered that once we had to amputate…"

"Professor," interrupted Remus, looking slightly annoyed. "Please, I ask once again for your help. Quickly."

"Oh!" Hopper responded, putting on his wizarding cap. "I'm right on it!" he then added, walking out the left side of his frame.

Severus was smirking despite himself. "Well, I've got to hand it to you, Lupin. You Gryffindors really have your persuasive methods down to par."

Remus shrugged and gave Severus a weary smile back in return. "What can I say? After years of being with James Potter and Sirius Black, it's hard not to learn a few of their… erhm… ways, when they're trying to get out of a sticky situation."

Severus decided not to comment and turned his attention back to Professor Hopper's empty portrait. His heart was pounding in his throat, and he was filled with tension as the frenzied-looking Professor returned.

"There is a man there!" he shrieked, "A dark, pale looking man and he's trying to do some unknown magic on a girl sleeping on a cot – but it didn't seem to be working. He spied me – and sent some type of fireball to my portrait frame and it burned. I just only escaped it in time!"

Remus and Severus turned towards each other, faces both set in stone. They knew what they had to do.

"We're leaving this room." Remus announced quite suddenly, striding toward the door. "Come on."

"Thanks for announcing the obvious." Severus sneered, but nonetheless stayed right behind Remus as they neared the exit.

"Here's to hoping that the door's not charmed!" called the werewolf young man, smirking at Severus over his shoulder.

"Seriously. Better you than me, though, I'm afraid." Severus joked back, holding his breath without really meaning to as Remus' hand gripped the doorknob and then turned it.

Nothing happened.

Ecstatic, they both rushed down the moving spiral staircase and exited Dumbledore's office into a corridor. Both young men could tell that the castle was under stress; many younger children kept running past them, looking frightened. Taking a direction opposite to the Great Hall, where everyone was obviously running to, both young men strode in the direction of the hospital wing. They just had to get there, before it was too late…

Neither could face the consequences if they didn't.

-x-

"Remus?" questioned Tobias, now confused. "Who is this 'Remus' now?"

Alanze glared at him, tears coating her face in a sea of salt. "No one you need be worried about."

"Sure." Tobias responded casually, "Which is why I'm sure your charm wasn't in vain."

Within a few seconds, Tobias had a handful of hair woven amongst his fingers. Alanze flinched as her head yanked in the direction of the Tremare that she had hated so much.

"Who is this 'Remus'?" he asked once again. "Why were you sending out visions to him?"

He laughed at the look on her face. "Yes, I knew what you were doing. I'm a very skilled Occlumens. Most Vampires are. You'd be surprised what we know just by looking at someone."

Alanze's eyes stung yet again, not from the surface from her own worries, but from the pain she felt from Tobias tugging at her head. "You're despicable."

"Such harsh tones from such a little girl." Tobias clicked his tongue at her, letting go of her hair. "I'd watch them if I were you."

"What're you here for?" asked Alanze suddenly. Her hands flew absentmindedly to the bulge in her stomach.

"Oh no…"

"Oh no, is right!" laughed the elder Snape, throwing his head back in glee. "I'm here for my heir! And now that you've finally waken up from that bloody comatose… you'll be much easier to remove from this dreaded school."

"Where will you take me?" questioned Alanze, frighteningly as she watched Tobias get out a small silver rod. It reminded her of a wand. "Back to the manor?"

"Of course not. I have several places to live other than that place," the Tremare snarled, raising the silver to the point where it was right inbetween her eyes. Alanze flinched as the sharp point of the rod touched her brow, and expected to be instantly transported. But on the contrary, nothing happened.

Alanze watched as Tobias raised the tiny rod once more and prick her slightly in her right shoulder. Once again, much to Tobias' surprise, nothing happened. The vampire was getting annoyed that his attempts were not working.

"I don't understand!" he yelled out in frustration, throwing the rod down to the floor and then stepping on it. "Why isn't my magic working?"

"Because it's not actual magic!" Alanze hissed at him. "They're Vampiric charms and they don't work inside of the school. Professor Dumbledore makes sure of that."

Tobias glared at the young woman for a mild amount of time before withdrawing his hand, and slapping her across the face. Alanze screamed in surprise, and Tobias heard a gasp from someone else. He turned, just in time to see an old man in a portrait hanging at the top of the ward. With a snarl, he removed a rather battered wand, also quite tiny, from his robe pockets and pointed it toward the man in the painting. In seconds, it burst into flame, and the man fled from the burning canvas in fear.

"So I can't transport you." Tobias thought aloud. "Then how in the world am I going to get you out of this ruddy school?"

Alanze felt pride in Professor Dumbledore's Spellwork. She hadn't really realized that Hogwarts was the safest place in the wizarding world until now.

She was so locked in her thoughts; it was a rude awakening when Tobias gripped her by her right shoulder once again.

"Get out of the bed."

"Wh-WHAT?"

"Get – out – of – the – blooming – bed!"

Alanze watched in horror as Tobias threw back the sheets and comforter that she had been sleeping under for so many months, and didn't even have much time to be embarrassed about being seen in a hospital gown until Tobias had his rusty wand pointing inbetween her shoulder blades from behind.

"Start moving!" he roared. Alanze looked at him, suddenly stern.

"And how do you expect me to get out of this bed?" she felt like screaming. "I was in a coma for nearly five months! You expect all my limbs to suddenly start working as if my body never shut them down?"

Tobias withdrew his fist and struck her across the face again. "You should have never tried to commit suicide!"

"You should have never tried to interfere in my relationship with Severus, hoodwinking us through our dreams and trying to get us to sleep together to have your heir!" Alanze yelled back, not persuaded to feel guilty about what she did.

The wiry vampire had to smirk. "Well… my interference worked, didn't it?"

With a shock to her system, Alanze suddenly felt Tobias' elongated fingers moving across the lump emitting from her dress. The baby inside of her kicked. Alanze gasped, not knowing whether it was from Tobias' actual touch, or the fact that she was so upset.

"You see?" Tobias had to add, removing his hands from her stomach. "He knows who his master is."

"His master is no one!" screamed the girl once again. "If my child is even a he! My child could be a girl for all you know!"

"No." Tobias said firmly, looking at Alanze's stomach. "I sensed it. Your child is a boy. A perfect heir."

There was no thought to Alanze's reaction to his words. Tobias scarcely reacted as he felt the warm saliva dripping down the side of his face. Then, though Alanze expected him to do so, he withdrew his fist once again and hit her once again.

As Alanze saw stars before her eyes, she also felt herself being moved. She couldn't even react much as Tobias lifted her from the cot, placed her into his arms, and started to swiftly walk out of the hospital wing.

"Put me down!"

"Shut your face, woman, or we'll be discovered."

"PUT – ME – DOWN!"

There was a very confusing movement as Tobias struggled to keep Alanze in his arms. Without thinking, he jabbed his wand deep into her throat, and she silenced at once. He didn't even perform a spell, but at the threat that he might, Alanze did not want to face that risk.

"Good girl," he purred, now managing to run down the long corridors. "Just keep quiet as I rid you of this horrible place, forever."

Alanze wanted to hit him but she felt as if she was too weak. She could scarcely put up a struggle. Was it all going to end up like this? Being abducted, while everyone had their backs turned?

-x-

"She's not here, she ISN'T here!"

"Thank you once again, for that obvious announcement of what I already noticed!"

"Shut up, Snape!"

Remus ran a nervous hand through his long, light brown hair. He looked uncertainly toward his Slytherin ally, wondering what to do. "Where would they go? If they couldn't disapparate, how do you think he took her?"

"By foot?" Severus answered in reply. "He would have to run out of the school, and down the path towards either Hogsmeade or the forest in order to apparate."

"I'm judging if he's on foot and carrying her, he'd avoid the road to Hogsmeade. The students are coming back from the raid he probably set up with that Dark Lord character to distract Dumbledore. It would be easier to kidnap Alanze that way."

"So he's going by forest." Severus deducted, stroking the stubble of his chin. "Right."

"Well… don't just stand there. Let's go!" Remus smirked once more. "We have to catch up – we don't know how far he's gotten."

"Right." Severus repeated once more. "You know Lupin, when you're without your so-called 'friends' we make a pretty good team."

"And so we do," Remus responded coolly, smirk widening. "But let us discuss that later. Alanze's life is on the line right now."

"Of course." Severus responded, actually allowing Remus to lead him out of the ward once again.

-x-

Alanze could hear screams of the other students. If only she called out to them as they rushed past, obviously ignoring them as Tobias carried her across the Entrance Hall.

"Excellent." Tobias murmured, "They're so distracted by the Death Eaters that they don't even notice I'm walking out with you."

"You're-" Alanze wretched out, swallowing a bit of saliva. It was a tricky thing to do, considering the wand was jabbing at her windpipe. "You're-"

"I'm what?" smirked the Vampire, getting a better grip on Alanze's body.

"Caught, Snape!"

Alanze could've died then and there just to hear Remus' voice. And better yet, as Tobias wheeled around to face his confrontation, Alanze was even more euphoric to see both the men she cared for, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape, standing united, wands out, and shoulder-to-shoulder as they faced her kidnapper.

"Put her down!" Severus roared, wand held steadily in front of him. "Put her down, now!"

"And what if I don't?" hissed Tobias, growing angrier by the second. "What if I make a mad dash out of the threshold doors?"

"Then we'd follow you." Remus snapped in reply, "And you wouldn't get far – you have to run with Alanze toward the Anti-Apparition wards in the forest. It's too long of a chase. You'd get weary and eventually, we'd catch you."

"Clever, aren't you, boy?" growled the vampire, face sneering. It was uncanny how much Severus resembled him. "I assume that you're the Remus that Alanze sent her charm to?"

"The one and only," smirked Remus in response, watching the situation carefully.

"Severus, you were never one to make good friends." Tobias taunted, smirking now too. "Just think, teaming up with a bloody Gryffindor…"

Severus wasn't listening to him; however, he was looking at the look of terror planted upon Alanze's face.

"What're you doing to her?" he whispered in awe, not knowing what to do.

Tobias glanced quickly down at the silent, unmoving girl in his arms. He caught a glance of her facial expression, and glanced back towards his son. "I'm not doing anything – something's happening to her on her own."

"The baby?" questioned Remus, grabbing Severus' robe sleeves. "How far along is she?"

"She's – She's nearly five or six months." Severus gasped back in reply. "Not nearly enough time for-"

The three men grew silent. Remus raised his wand, and Severus suddenly mimicked him, raising his own.

"How about I levitate Alanze, and you do something with your father?" murmured the Gryffindor quickly, not dwelling on his ideas. He knew that Vampires could easily 'read minds', and it wasn't a good idea to have his thoughts being known.

"Sounds like a fair idea." Severus murmured back, his mind naturally blocked. He had been able to conquer Occlumency for a while now. "Don't hurt her, okay? And move her, quickly."

"Consider it done." Remus responded.

For a second, the men just stood staring at each other as Alanze cringed in Tobias' arms. And then…

Without warning, Remus had yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Shocked, the vampire was surprised when Alanze's began to slowly rise towards the ceiling.

"Impedimenta!" Severus yelled in response, hitting Tobias in the chest. The vampire toppled over, not being able to get to his feet due to the spell.

"Move her, Lupin! Now!" screamed the Slytherin, eying Alanze hovering over Tobias.

"Mobilicorpus!" Remus ordered, and Alanze's body whizzed away from the scene at once… in the opposite direction. "Bloody hell," the Gryffindor complained to himself, "Accio Alanze!"

Alanze came skidding back over in Remus' direction, being pulled by the spell. Remus held open his arms as she collided with him, and they both toppled over helplessly.

"I've got her!" was all that Remus had to yell before Severus raised his wand again.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

Remus didn't even have enough time to notice the effects of Severus' spell. He hadn't even heard of such a jinx before. It was a second after Remus was sure Tobias had been hit, for the man was screaming and trying to back as far away from his son as possible. Alanze looked up at Remus, tears running down her face, and clutching her stomach.

"Something's not right!" she moaned. Remus looked down at her, and she defiantly looked paler than she had earlier on in the day. "Something's wrong with-"

Remus raised his hand, which Alanze had been unconsciously sitting on and they both gazed at it. His hand was covered in sticky blood.

Without another word, Remus got to his feet, steadying his grip with Alanze's weight. Something was wrong with her baby. She needed help, and to get help, he had to get to Dumbledore… who was in Hogsmeade…

"I told you not to come near her again!" murmured Severus, as Remus struggled to join him back in the Entrance Hall. "Crucio!"

It took a moment between Tobias' screams, and Remus' shock before the Gryffindor actually realize he performed an Unforgivable Curse. But now wasn't the time to discuss Severus' antics. Alanze was in trouble.

"Snape, something's wrong with the baby!" he yelled suddenly.

Severus' blood ran cold, and his hands flew up over his mouth. "What?" he gasped, horrified.

Taking his chance, Tobias made sure both the younger men weren't looking in his direction, and suddenly bolted out of the Entrance Hall. Both Severus and Remus' attention snapped back to the fleeing vampire as soon as they heard his feet smacking against the marble. Severus raised his wand again, but Remus nudged him hard with his foot.

"Ouch, Lupin!" he hissed, "Let me get a clear shot and we'll be rid of him for good…"

"No, Snape, no!" Remus yelled back, as Alanze let out a faint scream. "Your child is in danger! We need to get her to St. Mungo's – and besides once he leaves the castle he won't be able to find us again! The Fidelius Charm, remember?"

Severus looked at Remus angrily. "You're right. Come on."

The two rushed towards the path to Hogsmeade, Remus panting heavily but glad for his lycanthropy for once, because he was actually strong enough to hold Alanze for so long. Once they had reached the village, they saw that all the students were queued up amongst themselves. Some were sporting blackened faces or singed robes, and others were lying silently on the ground, surrounded by friends. Remus' eyes searched frantically for his companions. What he needed right now was James Potter…

"Remus! You're okay!" yelled a female voice, running over to him. Remus turned, nearly upsetting his footing. The female gasped. "Remus – why do you have-" and then, spotting Severus, she quickly added, "Remus – why is he with you?"

"I can't talk, Alanze's having problems with her pregnancy. Where is Prongs, is he safe? And Padfoot? And Wormtail?"

"We're all fine – Sirius and James were fighting against the Death Eaters for a bit… Sirius got a bit flustered but he's okay – and James is fine, he was protecting a group of third year Hufflepuffs who got ambushed." Lily explained, walking alongside Remus and Severus. "May I ask, why is Severus Snape accompanying you?"

"Severus Snape is my companion for the moment. We both are in an agreement for the protection of Alanze. She needs to get to the Hospital, but first we need Prongs." Remus told Lily, walking towards Professor Sprout and a large group of Hufflepuffs.

"There's no need, I'll call for him." Lily murmured, holding her hands up to her face and screwing up an expression of pain. "JAMES!" she bellowed, and Remus stumbled at hearing the sound waves. Severus gripped his elbow, and he nodded his thanks.

"Why does everyone know these communication charms but me?" growled the werewolf boy, looking down at Alanze and Lily.

"Charms club." Lily explained easily. "Professor Flitwick taught all his members that charm ages ago. It's dead useful sometimes, but it does wear down the throat a bit."

"Take Alanze, I can't hold much longer." Remus murmured, and Severus nodded and quickly accepted Alanze into his arms. The young woman looked up at him, thoughtfully, though she was obviously still in pain. Remus' hands and robes were splattered in blood.

"How're you doing, Alanze?" whispered the Slytherin, looking down at her with kind eyes.

"I'm… not feeling too well." Alanze whispered back. "Your father said the baby is a boy. You're going to have a son, Severus."

Severus' stomach flipped. He didn't have much time to brood on the situation when James Potter and Sirius Black both came rushing over to them. Both Remus and Severus noticed that Peter was missing, as usual.

"Where's Wormtail?" asked Remus, looking skeptical. Sirius eyed the blood on his shirt rather thoughtfully.

"He fainted during the fighting. What's with the blood?" asked Sirius, looking cautious. Then, for a moment he realized that someone else was standing beside Remus. "Snivellus."

"Don't start this right now. I don't need this feuding. I came here because I need Prongs." Remus snarled. After defending Severus, he briefly explained the current situations to his fellow Marauders. Alanze was growing paler by the minute, and Severus had nudged him to finish the tale up.

"But as of now, I want Prongs to be her secret keeper. We need to get Alanze to St. Mungo's and I was wondering, did any of you pass your Side-Apparition tests?"

"I did." James responded at once. His birthday was in October in the start of the year. Sirius pouted. He had passed his apparition test, but hadn't advanced that far. His birthday was in April. And Lily, Remus knew that she probably could've passed the test… if her birthday wasn't on June first. It was almost the end of May.

"Great, Snape – do you know how to perform Side-Apparition?" Remus turned to Severus, as Alanze quietly closed her eyes. Idly, the pale Remus smacked at her cheeks. "Stay awake, 'Lanze! Don't go back to sleep!"

Severus shook Alanze a bit, trying to keep her conscious before he responded. "I tried twice, but I haven't actually passed Side-Apparition," he told, eying them all. "My birthday was at the end of December."

"Do you trust yourself enough to try and get Alanze to the Hospital, or should we get a teacher to help?" questioned Lily quietly. She looked at the pale girl in his arms, as Severus held her close to his body.

"I… I know I can do it. I'm really good at focusing, and I know that I'll be able to transport us there." Severus answered the redhead, feeling a bit of pride in his magical abilities.

"Alright, then I need Prongs to take me." Remus admitted, blushing a bit. "My birthday's next week."

"It isn't a problem." James answered back smoothly, kissing Lily on the cheek and then nodding at Sirius. "Watch over Lily. I want you both to find Professor Dumbledore and tell him what happened with Snape's father – and then tell him that we all apparated to St. Mungo's to help get Alanze treated. Tell Professor Dumbledore that we'll be waiting for him so he can perform the Fidelius Charms."

Lily and Prongs nodded silently. Severus marveled at the authority that James Potter had over his friends.

Without another word, James strode over to Remus and looked at him. James was only a few inches taller than the light-eyed werewolf was himself.

"Take my arm, firmly, and don't let go even if you think you might." James ordered firmly. "Understand?"

"Of course I do, Prongs, I'm not daft." Remus responded, nodding intellectually. "You don't need to tell me things twice. I'm not Padfoot."

"Hey!" scowled Sirius, and Lily smiled a bit.

"Okay, Snape… let's prove your worth. To St. Mungo's on the count of three. One… Two…"

Severus set his face and steadied his grip on Alanze. She had been awake for a rare amount of time, but now she was slipping back into unconsciousness. Severus deeply hoped that it wasn't another coma.

"Three!"

Lily and Sirius barely had time to blink before all four of the people standing in front of them suddenly vanished, leaving nothing but the scent of blood and a strong 'CRACK!' to echo in their wake.

-x-

Severus had barely made it. He saw the lights of the hospital flash before him before he was almost thrown from the void of traveling. Alanze nearly slipped out of his arms, but he grabbed her just in time, and they both fell onto the floor of St. Mungo's.

A few seconds later, James and Remus appeared, both standing and looking very confused.

"Here, Snape, let me help you-" murmured Remus, not caring what James thought of him. "How's Alanze fairing?"

"She's been fading off and on." Severus mumbled back, ignoring the looks on James Potter's face as both he and Remus strode towards the welcome witch's desk.

"Are you Snape and Lupin?" she asked as they approached.

"Yes!" they both quickly replied, looking relieved.

"And this is Alanze Daniels?" she flicked her wand unimportantly.

"Yes!" they agreed again.

"Alright. Professor Dumbledore sent a message to me by his phoenix. We've already got a room set up for her, she's going to be on level four… that's the level for spell damage. You can head up to the fifth floor now to wait until she is settled… but as for the girl…"

About seven Healers swarmed the two boys at once. They were floating a stretcher between them, and they pried Alanze out of Severus' arms and quickly ran out of sight, in the direction of a back room.

"Where are they taking her?" Remus asked urgently.

"To get her vitals checked out. To make sure nothing bad happens to the baby, that sort of thing." The witch answered almost lazily. "Now please, boys, if you have no further questions, kindly get out the way. You're holding up my line."

Neither Severus nor Remus knew they had such a large queue of people behind them. Embarrassed, they showed themselves out of the line and joined up with James, who was standing near the staircase.

"Where should we go?" the handsome Quidditch player asked, pushing his glasses up his face.

"Fifth floor to wait, she told us." Remus replied wearily. "Perhaps we can clean up in the tea room as well."

"Maybe, because you both look like you need a scrubbing." James joked, leading the ascent. Severus snorted. James looked worse-for-wear himself, after the fight from Hogsmeade. Half his face was covered in ashes, and his robes were frayed, as if giant claws had slashed them.

"So do you, Prongs!" Remus mocked, pulling on the back of James' robes. "What'd you do, get into a battle with a giant cat?"

"I guess you can say that," smiled James, turning the knob to the tearoom after a ten-minute climb. "One of the Death Eaters was an unregistered Animagus. He turned into a… wildcat or something and tried to attack me."

"Imagine those odds." Severus snarled, without actually meaning to. "What're the chances there are some unregistered Animagi running about?"

Both Remus and James turned around, just before Severus walked in the room, and glowered at him.

"Okay, I didn't mean to say it – Potter provoked me!" he apologized, passing by the two Gryffindors and then flinching at the lemon-coloured room. "Are they joking?"

"Look Moony, looks like the outside of your house!" James cheered, spotting a few couches in the corner. There were a few people in the tearoom, and they all looked as if they were up to avoiding the three young men. "Let's go sit over there!"

"It does not look anything like my house. My house is gold, this is… more… fruitful." Remus sneered, going over to the cream-coloured couches James had pointed to. Severus looked weary. None of them really wanted to ruin the upholstery.

"I have an idea." James announced suddenly, brandishing his wand on Remus. "Scourgify!"

In a few seconds, Remus' robes cleared of Alanze's blood and looked remotely spotless. He had to wonder why he hadn't thought of the cleaning spell himself. It wouldn't have mattered, seeing that he was still underage, but simple spells such as Scourgify were usually his specialty.

"Excellent!" he cheered to his friend, who bowed his head in humble reply.

Remus looked between Severus and James. He suddenly knew that at the time they both remembered certain events between them in their fifth year. James had used the Scourgify spell to 'clean Severus' mouth out with soap' for using swearwords…

"Do you trust me, Snape?" Remus announced suddenly, looking over at the Slytherin.

"Reasonably so, but yes." Severus replied silkily, eyes never straying from James.

"Then let Prongs clean your robe front too. Prongs, the honors?" Remus murmured, looking now at James. "And since Snape trusts me, and I trust you, I expect you'll be honest?"

"Yeah, yeah." James sneered in response. "Sure. Why the hell not? Scourgify."

Remus thought he almost saw Severus flinch as the grime of blood lifted easily off of his clothes. He nodded his head as thanks, and then raised his eyebrows at Remus' next suggestion.

"Snape – you can help Prongs, since he helped you," suggested Remus slowly, looking between the mortal enemies. "He trusts me and I trust you, so trust each other. It saves me a lot of trouble of being the 'middle man'."

James snorted, watching with caution as Severus raised his wand and pointed it directly at him.

"Scourgify Reparo!" the Slytherin murmured. James' robes and face was suddenly cleared of all soot, and the back where Remus had noticed the slash marks suddenly re-threaded as if the incident with the cat ever happened.

"Cheeky, aren't you Snape?" grinned James; looking over himself, making sure he hadn't sprouted another arm. "Robe looks good as new. Good thing too, though. This one was my favorite."

Without another word, the three young men plopped down on three separate couches. Remus had been watching as a young woman paced impatiently about the counter as the tender served her some tea. She looked stressed, as bas as Remus' nerves felt at the time. He had scarcely noticed he had fallen asleep until James woke him up out of a pleasant dream he had involving dancing Butterbeer canisters.

"Moony?"

"Mmm… delicious."

"I hope you're talking about some type of food, mate."

"Butterbeer."

"Ah, right."

"Mmmhmm."

A few seconds pause, until someone hit him again. "Moony!"

"Wha?" murmured Remus, hiding his face under his robes. "I don't want the gillywater!"

There was a sharp prod to the back of Remus' neck, and he jumped up, in horror. "OUCH! What was that for?"

It was very scary to see a both a smirking Severus Snape and James Potter peering down at his weary figure. Remus subconsciously checked himself to make sure nothing was abnormally wrong.

"Sorry, mate… but we had to get you up," snorted James, biting his lip. "I tried to be civil, but Snape here has a shorter patience than mine – so he just stabbed you in the neck with his wand. I guess it worked."

"Stabbed my arse." Remus swore, now glaring at Severus. "You electrocuted me!"

"Elector – what?" Severus smirked, even though he was a Half-Blood and knew perfectly what electricity was. "What's that?"

"If you two can grow up-" interrupted James with a reckless smile as the others glared at him, "You'd both notice that Professor Dumbledore's just arrived."

The tall figure of Albus Dumbledore stood looking slightly resolute at the three young men. In his hand, he held out the paperwork to Alanze's treatment at St. Mungo's. Apprehensively, Severus reached out a shaking hand and grasped the rolls of parchment. Remus nodded, as James looked between them both wearily. Dumbledore raised his hand and invited them all to sit back down. Once the three were all seated, Dumbledore lowered himself and sat on the loveseat next to Severus. Then, in a small voice he started speaking.

"They managed to save her."

Wearily, Remus hid his face in his hands. He couldn't help but feel relieved.

"What about… about the baby?" Severus asked. Even he looked paler than usual.

"Fine as well. The Healers has suggested, after Alanze's therapy resulting the coma, she should stay off of her feet. She's experienced a false labor… that is why she was bleeding… from the override of emotions Tobias Snape sent through to her. Once the Fidelius Charm is done, and it has to be done quickly, as I can sense Tobias Snape is still tracking her, she will finally be safe."

Dumbledore paused, as Severus couldn't help but smile. His baby was okay! Alanze was okay!

"Come. We must do the Charm now… or the next time you both may not be so fortunate with Alanze's health or physical presence." Dumbledore added grimly, robes swishing as he quickly stood up and headed down a floor. The three young men anxiously followed him.

Remus was nervous. He was scarcely watching where he was going as he followed behind Severus and Dumbledore. Was Snape actually going to go through with what they promised? Would the charm be strong enough to work? Would James still be willing to do it?

As if sensing his troubles, James put a soft hand onto Remus' shoulder. The light-eyed young man turned about to his friend, who made his grip firmer, and nodded seriously.

"I'm with you all the way, mate." James told him, lips pressed together. "If you want to protect Alanze, I'll be your man. You know I'll never tell."

"I know." Remus whispered. "But I still feel bad. If Elder Snape finds out who and where you are…"

"Moony. Remus." James whispered back, now looking over his shoulder. "I told you not to worry. I'll be fine – we've got Dumbledore's protection, right? What is safer than that?"

"I don't know…" Remus smiled weakly, turning and going to join Professor Dumbledore and Severus. They had walked into a room several doors down. Hanging over the archway was a sign that read 'Private – Obstetrics Ward', which led into another corridor with more rooms and hallways. About to get flustered, both Gryffindors were relieved to see Severus waiting for them outside of a room one hallway over from the main one. Upon seeing their arrival, the Slytherin rolled his eyes and entered back inside the room he was standing nearby.

Remus and James walked in. There was an empty bed closest to the door, and nearby a small window there was a woman who looked at least in her mid-fifties, sitting comfortably as she read a book resting on top of her bulging stomach. In the center bed, rested Alanze, who was beaming up interestingly at all of them. She was in a fresh gown, and had her hair knotted very prettily at the base of her neck. Remus admired her dark origins, considering her to be very exotically beautiful, and it was hard not to love her. Distantly, he wondered if Severus was thinking the same thing, but the Slytherin wasn't looking at her. He sat in a chair nearby the head of her bed, filling out the paperwork with a quill retrieved from the nightstand he was leaning against.

"Weight?" asked Severus aloud, scribbling away madly as Dumbledore conjured up three more chairs so everyone else could sit down.

"Sixty-three and a half kilos, I think they said?" Alanze replied quietly, turning to her side to face Severus. She propped herself up on her elbow and leaned over to read his markings on the parchment. "Mother's name is Jessenia Laleh Haru, and she's a Muggle. Father's name is Ramses Thomas Grunnion."

There was a small silence, until James spoke up.

"Grunnion? As in Alberic Grunnion?"

Alanze gazed at him. "Yes, I think so. Why do you ask?"

"Alberic Grunnion was the inventor of Dungbombs!" James whispered, in awe as if they all should've known who he was. "Your dad's his descendant? You should be rolling in galleons!"

"That would've been the case if my mother hadn't been so paranoid. She moved us out of London when I was four and changed my last name to Daniels for my protection. I had an older brother, but my father gained custody of him. Last thing I heard they were in Africa… researching or something. Besides that, I haven't heard from my father since mom confessed that she was afraid of him and all his 'magical ability'." Alanze confessed quietly. "You've probably met my brother, Marcus. He was nearly five years older than me and probably left Hogwarts while you were in your first couple of years there."

Remus was stunned, despite his situation. "I never knew you had a brother."

Alanze looked at him, and smiled rather coyly. "Why, Remus… you just never asked."

They lapsed into silence. Remus assumed that Professor Dumbledore was waiting until Severus had finished the paperwork. Occasionally, the Slytherin would look up and ask Alanze's questions. The girl seemed quite content as she looked over the table, occasionally reading and correcting Severus' responses.

"Location on which, if patient were to be dispatched…"

"Write Thirty-Four Mainland Place." Remus stated clearly, blushing at the looks both James and Alanze gave to him. "Just for now… until I get a place."

"Who said she would shack up with you?" Severus snarled suddenly, his hand shaking on the paper.

"She didn't say anything, so why don't you ask her?" inquired James, hoping to avoid an argument.

Alanze looked thoughtful, and bit her lip before speaking. "Severus – it would be a bit more obvious if… if I stayed with you. At least Tobias doesn't know where Remus lives."

"Fine."

There were a few more scuffles on the paper, before Severus handed the parchments to Dumbledore for approval. The headmaster read them quickly and quietly, before rolling them up and getting to his feet.

"Now, it is perfectly your choice, Severus, but I am wondering if you would like to be placed under this Fidelius Charm as well."

Severus thought long and hard, and glanced at James Potter, who stared stonily back. "It's up to Potter."

"It's up to Moony." James answered in response. Remus bit his lip momentarily, computing the situation in his head. Should he protect Snape as well?

"Decision's yours, Alanze. Sorry mate." Remus smirked.

"Of course." Alanze stated at once. "What took you so long to ask?"

Everyone shared an uncomfortable smile as Dumbledore raised his wand.

"Remus, if you please, could you move out the way?"

"Oh! Of course!" Remus obliged at once, standing behind the professor as he raised his wand. The curtains between Alanze and the woman nearest the window suddenly fluttered shut, as Dumbledore murmured to the four teenagers.

"Severus, please grasp Ms. Grunnion's hands in your own. Then, Mr. Potter, you will place both of your hands over one of Severus' and one of Ms. Grunnion's. Understand?"

With a light smile, Severus sat on the bed and took Alanze's palms in his own. Alanze smiled up at him, as James took a seat on the other side of the girl, and added his own hands on top of the pair. and then they both looked rather seriously over at Professor Dumbledore as he placed the tip of his wand between their linked hands.

"And Mr. Potter, repeat after me. I, James Winthrop Harold Potter…"

James and Severus both grew pink on the usage of their middle names.

"I, James Winthrop Harold Potter."

"…Hereby devote my full services to Alanze Naturi Grunnion and Severus Quimbley Snape as a Secret Keeper."

James repeated him.

"And by devoting and promising to keep both Alanze Grunnion and Severus Snape safe, I will keep their location, secret, as promised. Any person whom they both choose to allow me to divulge it to will only know their whereabouts. With me, they are safe."

James' brow furrowed as he tried to remember the whole statement. He finished with a flurry of words. "… With me, they will always be safe."

Dumbledore smiled wearily, "That is not what I said, Mr. Potter."

James shrugged. "I thought it made a better effect."

"And so it did. Fidelis."

Upon speaking the final spell, Dumbledore sealed the Fidelius Charm. A bright yellow light emitted from his wand and completely covered the three participants. Remus subconsciously shielded his eyes, and upon removing his face from behind his robes, gasped. He found that suddenly Alanze and Severus were not there and that James was sitting on the bed by himself.

"Excellent." Dumbledore called cheerfully. "The spell works!"

Alanze looked apprehensive. "How can you tell?" she questioned, staring straight at Dumbledore, who was looking interestingly at James.

"Professor?"

There was a few seconds, until Alanze went to speak again. "Professor, why aren't you saying anything?"

"What's with the vacant stares?" Severus suddenly asked, looking at Remus' expression. "Potter, why are they staring like that?"

"I guess they can't see you – they really don't know that you're there." James marveled. "That Fidelius Charm is great."

"Tell them!" Alanze hissed, removing her hands from James'. Severus quickly shrugged his hands out of the pile, and got up off of the cot, and sat back in his chair near the nightstand. "Tell them before they think it's gone wrong!"

"Tell them what?" Remus watched James respond. "What am I supposed to say?"

"Tell them that they have permission to see us or something, remember the oath that you said after Dumbledore?" Alanze murmured, "Something about we get to choose who we want to see us. I give you permission to allow Professor Albus Dumbledore and Remus Lupin see where we are at all times."

James went to speak, but his mouth quickly snapped closed. Alanze glared over at Severus.

"Anything you'd like to contribute, Severus?" she snapped. Severus sighed. He hated to see her mad.

"Whomever Alanze Grunnion chooses to know about our whereabouts, with my permission, shall know from now on." Severus spoke aloud.

James repeated both of their statements to the best of his ability. Within minutes, Remus and Dumbledore could now see both Alanze and Severus. Without hesitation, Remus launched himself onto the cot and wrapped both Alanze and James into a heartfelt hug.

"Prongs, you have no idea how much this means to me." Remus murmured, grinning broadly as he looked deeply at Alanze, who was also smiling. "I feel like you've saved my life."

"No problem." James admitted, looking pleased nonetheless. "Anything to help a good mate in need."

"Alanze…" Severus started suddenly. "We need you to make a choice."

At those words, James stood up slowly and sat next to Dumbledore in a couple of chairs he had conjured a few moments before. He knew that the current conversation was out of his hands, and just a personal matter between the three.

"What're you on about?" Alanze asked Severus shakily, biting her lip. "What'd you mean a choice?"

"I signed your legal forms… to make sure you get treatment as of right now. Once Lupin becomes of age, all your paperwork shifts over to him and he becomes your legal guardian. But…"

"Since you're carrying Snape's child, we thought it was only fair to ask you to make a decision. Would you rather stay with him, protected entirely and have a family… or would you rather…"

Remus didn't finish his sentence. Nobody thought he really needed to.

Subconsciously, as she thought her hands stroked her slightly rounded stomach. Severus watched her and felt an edge of longing. He hadn't yet put his arms around the child he had created. Vaguely, he wondered if the baby would recognize his touch when Alanze's voice brought him out of a reverie.

"I want you to be around for your son, Severus." Alanze stated firmly, looking over at him seriously. "I want him to know whom his father is, and that he should be raised without no shred of fear from your father."

Severus almost felt himself smiling, but there was a nagging in the pit of his stomach. Somehow he felt a catch.

"And though I want you to be there for her, I was hiding what I was feeling all along. I only said yes to be your girlfriend because I was trying to make Remus jealous. I succeeded… and things just got too out of proportion from then on. I am sorry that things got so out of hand, but I want a good life for our baby…"

She took an overly dramatic pause as Severus felt his heart freeze over.

"But still… Severus… I want a life with Remus."