A/N: I know, don't tell me. You hate my guts. I was seriously considering discontinuation since the sixth book came out… however it appears people are still interested. So consider this a present from me. All my love, J.J.

Chapter 13

Spades and Diamonds

"Harry we can't—"

"We're not going to just leave him!"

Remus sighed and quickly tried to form the right words to tell Harry that carrying around a body wasn't the best ideas. It would leave the poor blonde boy more dignity to be buried.

"I can't… can't just leave him here…" Harry mumbled and Remus stared curiously at him.

Remus considered this and came to the conclusion Lucius Malfoy would not be happy if they didn't at least bring his son's body back.

"Let's get him to a town or something." Harry said. There was a look in his eye that Remus couldn't quite place at the moment.

"All right." Remus agreed. It was the least he could do at the moment for his distraught young companion.

It was nearly sunrise when Remus and Harry finally began to see the outskirts of a city. It was beginnign to get very hot when they at last reached it.

Entering the city, people stopped in the streets to stare at them. Harry became defensive and made sure that no one could see Draco's face. Remus was more concerned with finding a roof over their heads.

"It's the king…" They whispered and backed away when he approached.

"We need somewhere to stay." Remus said loudly and looked around to all the people. They avoided his eyes and looked to each other.

Remus could see that this was going to be harder than he thought.

Then there was a figure pushing its way through the crowd.

"Hey! Move aside, coming through. Excuse me!" A woman with a shielded face came forth and made eyecontact with Remus. "Come with me," She said. Harry and Remus followed her through the crowd.

The whole way she cursed at the people. "You were raised to take care of strangers, ya? Weren't those your orders from Lady Diamond herself? Not even for your own bloody king, eh? Why don't you all go back to your business then! Stop starin'!"

They entered a hut just outside of the tower with a curtained door.

"Look," Remus said quietly. "I feel I must tell you… but I'm not the king."

Even though her face was shrouded, they could hear her smile. "I know. And to tell you the truth I wouldn't have invited you in if you were."

Remus frowned, "But you just told those people—"

"I know what I said, man. Shake 'em up a bit, you know?"

Remus nodded his head, even if he wasn't exactly sure what she was meaning.

"Well I guess I'll be takin' you up the tower. Take care o' your friend there." She motioned toward Draco.

Harry didn't say anything or move except perhaps sink farther into depression.

Remus was quite shocked to realize Harry had the same expression Remus himself had had when Sirius had fallen.

Could Harry possibly be—

"Well you comin' or what?" The woman said, pulling the curtain door aside.

Remus hesitated to speak, "Um… I'm not sure you see… I don't think there's anything we can do…"

The woman stared at them. "You really are from somewhere else, aren't you? He ain't dead." And she left the hut.

Harry's head snapped up. "What? What do you mean he's not dead?"

"Are you comin' or what?" The woman called.

Remus and Harry hurried after her.

They approached the castle and the guards admitted them.

"What is your business?"

"Lady Diamond needs to heal this boy." The woman said and the guard looked at Draco.

"Alright then." And he moved aside.

The three of them and the lifeless Draco were upstairs in no time and positioned around a table with Draco lying in the center.

"Are you sure this Diamond knows what she's doing? We've checked his breathing… and pulse… there's none…"

The woman froze for a moment, then she pulled back her hood and removed her shawl. "You doubt my skills? Just as well, I suppose we've never met. I am Diamond Winters, Lady of this tower."

Remus and Harry weren't sure how to react, should they be happy? Shocked? Why didn't they feel more surprised.

"The fact is, your friend has been seperated from his body, nothing more. When we retrieve his soul and return it to his body, he'll awake as if from a dream. Complicated for an inexperienced one perhaps. But this is nothing I haven't dealt with before…"

"Oh thank God." Harry breathed, it felt like he had finally taken a breath. "I thought she'd killed him…"

"Spade? It's her favorite trick. They always bring the bodys to me to counter her spell."

With Harry's spirits throughly lifted, Remus felt himself more cheerful as well.

"What? Spade didn't stop them? What is this?" Sapphire kicked at the throne, causing the King to yelp.

Sapphire growled angrily into her hands. She threw her hair back behind her shoulder and clenched her fists.

"What are we going to do?"

"Well isn't there three more medallions?" Lupis asked quietly.

Sapphire suffered in silence for a moment before swallowing her rage and saying, "Don't you read up on your own kingdom? The Dragon and Phoenix medallions are in this castle so really they only need one. And I wouldn't be surprised if Diamond just GAVE it to them!"

Remellus recolied and shuffled some dust with his satin slipper. "Well they still need the Dragon and Phoenix, don't they?"

"They need four to enter since the other two tower keepers died and the medallions were entrusted to us! Unless of course you've forgotten!"

Lupis frowned. "Oh! You mean that ugly stone thing they gave me with the bird on it?"

"The very same. Clearly, they'll need to travel here to get them. Which really defeats the purpose of having them!"

"Why didn't someone get new tower keepers?"

"You were supposed to!"

Lupis frowned. "Oh really? I must have been really busy then."

Sapphire raked her mind for something she could use… then it came to her…

"Your Majestry, listen. I know you're not too concerned at the moment but consider this… if they get here… they'll ruin your wedding."

Remellus puffed up. "They'll what? Double your efforts to stop them at once!"

Diamond spoke quickly and purposely in a language beyond both Remus and Harry. Then colors of all sorts flashed throughout the room. There was a great wind and the breath of knocked out of them.

When everything died away, Harry could see straight again, he looked down at the table.

"---the hell?"

"Draco! You're okay!"

"Yes, no thanks to you I'm sure. What the hell happened?"

"Your soul was temporarily seperated from your body. It'll be a moment still before you'll be able stand."

Remus paid particular attention to the way Harry's whole world seemed to have suddenly lit up again.