Title: Saishū Yume
Author: Ex-Professor Remus Lupin
Rating: R
Genre: Action/Adventure/Alternate Universe/Romance
Era: None
Pairing(s): Remus/Sirius, Severus/Harry
Summary: It starts, as a simple kidnapping. It will become an adventure unlike any other as a group of mismatched heroes find themselves drawn into a war for not only their lives, but also their very souls.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: I'm going to apologize right now for the character death in this chapter because I can expect a few people to be fairly upset.
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Chapter Eleven
Going Separate Ways
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He struggled for breath as he pushed himself toward the city gates. He could see people milling around waiting for the train that would arrive from Hogsmeade. Blue eyes blurred suddenly and he nearly collapsed again. With a groan, he used his spear to keep himself standing and forced another step. He had only to make it to the gate. His people needed help and Ravenclaw was the only place he could and would turn to for help.

The walk was long, but he forced himself to the gate. People stared at him in shock, too surprised that he could still be moving. Bloody still poured from an open wound on his chest and his arms were covered in burns and scratches. Claws had been dragged across his face, permanently damaging his right eye and leaving three nearly evenly spaced slashes from his hairline to his jaw.

He felt someone's hand on his arm and he gazed blindly at the immense shadow that had grabbed his arm and was carefully supporting him. "Where are you going?" the giant of a man asked, his voice a harsh brogue.

"L-lib-library," he managed his voice hoarse with dehydration. "M-my si-sis..." he trailed off, too exhausted as his already destroyed vision blurred.

"Ah course," the man said. "I'll take you, just relax."

He did just that and with a sigh of relief, slipped into unconsciousness.

-

"Honestly, you expect anyone to think that's impressive?" Remus asked, gazing at the heavily bandaged arm that Sirius was now sporting.

"I certainly hope so, it does look rather cool," was the reply.

Sirius, resting comfortably in his bed in the Hospital Wing, had spent most of the evening and the morning telling anyone who would listen, the story of the fight. Severus who had come nursing a few burns, had made a few sarcastic comments pointing out that Sirius had only been able to make the killing blow that won him the competition because Severus had freed him from the webbing. He had been ignored.

"You look like an idiot," Remus grumbled from his chair. It had been two days since the incident on the balcony and Sirius had not brought up the agreement. Remus had been all to glad not to keep that particular promise.

"He does look rather pitiful," Ginevra said, smiling from where she stood a few paces away, leaning easily onto the doorway of the Hospital Wing. Occasionally, she would glance out into the tiny hall, but so far, nothing had proved more interesting than the bickering between the two young men.

"Hey!" Sirius said indignantly.

"She's right, you kn–" whatever the prince had been about to say was cut off as the outer door into the hall was shoved open and a deep voice asked for a white mage. A weak voice was protesting the need for such measurements.

"I must – s-see the-the emp-emperor," the person was saying, there voice carrying a lilt similar to Ginevra's. The elven princess looked down the hall, her blue eyes widened in fear, and she dropped her spear and rushed from the room.

Remus stood up as she disappeared and Sirius struggled to get out of the bed only to find Remus' hand on his shoulder.

"You should be resting," he arrived in the hallway a moment later, to a horrific scene.

A young eleven male had collapsed onto the floor of the Hospital Wing's outer room. The smooth, warm texture of the elf's intestines could be seen trying to squeeze past his fingers, blood pouring from a wound that refused to heal. He wore a few pieces of leather armor that labeled him as a soldier. His hair was a dark red color and the one eye that hadn't spilled out onto his cheek was a brilliant blue.

"Brother," Ginevra said quietly, kneeling at her brother's side and cradling his head in her lap.

"Gry-Gryffin," he was struggling to speak, his breathing labored and pained, "att-attacked city...f-father in dan-danger."

Ginevra brushed his red hair from his forehead, humming soothingly to him. Remus stumbled back into the wall. He had never seen such horrible disfiguration on a person and it frightened him. Had his father truly down this?

"Can we heal him?" Ginevra asked coolly, gazing up as the emperor of Ravenclaw entered the room. He gazed down at the dying elf, his blue eyes filled with pity.

"No, dear girl, the wounds are far too great," was the quiet reply.

Remus slid to the floor, shaken as the elf took his last breath, begging the emperor to help his kingdom. With a final shudder, he was still. Ginevra held onto his hand for several minutes afterward, her blue eyes cold with fury. Finally, she took the hand she had been holding and laid it gently onto the still chest.

"Fly free," she whispered, her voice breaking.

-

The throne room was unusually somber that evening. Ginevra, dressed once more in her yellow Dragon Knight attire, stood at the window, gazing out onto the city. Her spear was leaning against the window frame and she held the blood spattered one that her brother had been using. Sirius, now out of bed despite his slowly healing arm – he blamed the Acromantula's poison entirely – was quick to notice that she had not yet cried. Seamus, her personal guard, soon silently at her side.

"My people," Ginevra said suddenly, "are dying, Your Grace."

"This could not have happened at a worse time," Lady Minerva said softly. "Because of the festival there are few soldiers in the city. It will take time to mobilize."

"We can not and will not wait," the emperor said sternly from where he stood. "Call back the Fourteenth."

"But, my dear, the Fourteenth – we will lose our eye over Gryffindor."

"It seemed we have already lost our eye," Ginevra turned around suddenly, clutching the bloodied spear tightly in her hands. "I cannot wait for rein-reinforcements, I will go back to Hufflepuff alone if I must," her voice cracked once and than was steady.

"I'll come with you," Sirius said from where he stood. Ginevra turned angry blue eyes on him.

"This does not concern you, human."

"Do you really think you stand a chance in hell against an army of Gryffindor soldiers by yourself? They've been trained under General Granger. That woman is heartless, no doubt her men and women are too."

"Do not speak of the General like that!" Weasley said suddenly from the other side of the room. Severus, standing beside Ginevra at the window, shot him a sardonic glare.

"According to the now deceased Prince Frederick, it is Gryffindor that has attacked the city. I have met Frederick before. No lowly Gryffindor soldier could have done this. He's too clever for that. This is most likely the general's handiwork," Severus snapped. "Princess Ginevra, if you would allow it, I will accompany you to Hufflepuff. I suspect that the mages may be involved as well."

"Thank you, both of you," Ginevra said quietly, gazing at Severus and than at Sirius.

"I will go as well," Remus said suddenly from where he sat beside Weasley.

"No," Sirius growled. "This doesn't concern you."

"If my father is behind this than it does," Remus said. "Perhaps I can convince him of the foolishness of this."

"You idiot, do you really think that the man that nearly killed you with that trick of his back in Gryffindor would listen to you?" Severus demanded.

"I think you should stay here," all eyes turned to Sirius. The thief was staring intently at the floor, running his right hand over his bandage.

"What?" Remus demanded.

"We don't know what we'll find when we get there," Sirius said easily, meeting Remus' eye finally.

"Haven't I faced enough danger just getting here? I can fight."

"No, you can't, you can heal," Severus snapped. "Because of my own foolishness you are now a Werewolf."

The room fell silent suddenly. It had been nearly a week since they had spoken of the incident in the Forbidden Forest. Remus had told his uncle, but the Hufflepuff princess most certain did not know. He looked at her. Ginevra looked horrified, her blue eyes wide with fear and surprise.

"The heir to the throne of Gryffindor is a Werewolf," she said angrily. "You humans allow such beasts to live."

"Hey!" Sirius was standing, glaring fiercely at her. "There's nothing wrong with him."

"Of course," the prince said lowly. "Cousin?" she had turned her blue eyes, cold with fear and fury on Weasley. The knight stammered for a moment and then said quietly.

"I swore to protect him with my life when I became a knight."

"Even now, knowing what he has become?"

"I swore–"

"I would not fault you if you slit his throat now," Ginevra said darkly. "Our people do not tolerate such accidents to live."

"You bitch," Sirius growled and he started toward her. Seamus stepped in front of her, his spear at the ready. Albus was at his feet a moment later.

"Silence, all of you," the three stopped immediately. "Whether or not my nephew is dangerous any time but during the full moon is not the important issue. Remus," the emperor turned sharp blue eyes to the prince, "you will remain here. Weasley, you shall stay and protect him if you wish. If not, you are free to leave–"

"I will stay," Ron said lowly.

"So be it, Lady Ginevra, you and your knight are free to leave the city any time you'd like, if you deem it so, the others may go with you."

-

"You helped my brother into the city, I thank you," Hagrid, standing at the door, looked surprised when the elven princess addressed him. He gazed down at the dark red haired figure that had approached him.

"It was nothing misses," he said solemnly. "He needed help."

"It would please me if you joined us in Hufflepuff," the giant grinned at her.

Sirius, carrying his bag, came into the hall just in time for Hagrid to accept the princess' offer. Smiling, he approached the two.

"Hagrid's probably the best blue mage you could find," he said patting the giant's forearm. He had known Hagrid since he'd been a child. Hagrid had found Sirius when he had been abandoned in the harbor as a child. He had taken Sirius to Aberforth and the emperor's brother had raised him. Hagrid had been a good friend since.

"Ah, don't be tellin' the girl lies, Sirius," Hagrid rebuked.

"You know I'm not lying."

"What is a blue mage?" Ginevra asked curiously.

"A blue mage," Severus growled, stepping into the room, "is a person who has learned the fiends way of fighting. The giant has a rather unique talent for it."

"Tea?" everyone looked up as Remus walked into the room. He was followed by a house elf carrying a tray.

-

Sirius pushed himself up from the floor where he had collapsed, cursing white mages and their stupid magic until his face was likely to turn blue. He looked around the room and found Ginevra lay near him, sleeping. Crawling over to the elven princess, he shook her harshly, jolting her into consciousness.

"Wha-what happened?" she demanded, blue eyes fluttering open.

"Moony laced the tea," Sirius grumbled. Ginevra sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The others in the room began to wake as well, murmuring questions as to why they were lying on the floor.

"I really must give him credit," she said after a moment.

The door to the throne room opened and Albus entered the hall, looking disheveled and slightly amused.

"You may be able to catch up with him if you leave now," the emperor said, looking to the party as they all stumbled to their feet.

"Just what is he thinking?" Sirius asked.

-
Author's Note: Okay, I'm sorry once again. This is where I leave you off until the next chapter. I know we sort of jumped around, but I really didn't need to write about everyone drinking tea and collapsing, it was better to just leave it to the imagination. We'll all just use our imaginations.

Next Chapter: Sirius, Severus, Ginevra, and Hagrid make it to Hufflepuff to find something unexpected...