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 sorry about the delay, but the lack of reviews made me lack inspiration; along with my distraction with an RP, that has taken a rather interesting turn for the um...better. I blame HK and myself entirely and to lighten the mood I say simply...briefcase. In addition, while I do this purely for my own enjoyment, I must admit that knowing that others enjoy this story as well has a certain power over my smile reaction...so reviews please.
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Chapter Twelve
A New Development
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The journey to Hufflepuff took a little two days to complete. The train would only bring them to Hogsmeade and they had to walk the rest of the way. Hagrid spent most the trip talking to Sirius about the skills and magic he had learned from the creatures he had met during his travels. Severus, Ginevra, and her guard, Seamus, walked in silence. It wasn't until they had passed through the Cave and settled down for the night outside the cave's exit on the Hufflepuff Plains, that anyone said anything.

"Is that rain?" Sirius asked, looking toward the city, particularly at the black clouds that hovered over the city and the lands surrounding it. "I've heard stories about it. Something about the serpent god or something and Slytherin being pissed of at the Hufflepuff king, I think."

Ginevra nodded.

"According to the legends of my people, in the times before even our greatest ruler, Helga Hufflepuff, had been born, the great serpent served the King of Slytherin. It seems that Hufflepuff wasn't keen to the idea of the Slytherin King's son wanting to marry the youngest daughter of their king. In his anger, Slytherin summoned the serpent to drown the elves. Instead, the rain never ceases and we have been forced to travel many miles to harvest crops."

"The king of Slytherin," Severus said slowly, "was a summoner."

"Yes, though the gift was lost to his line shortly after Salazar Slytherin came into power. The same can be said of the other royal families though I believe it died out at different times. My great-great grandmother had the gift. It killed her though. I do not know about the houses of Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, but I suspect the talent as been lost."

Sirius frowned, thinking back to Ravenclaw and the tapestry of Rowena Ravenclaw and her lover, Helga Hufflepuff. Remus had recognized the summon. Sirius considered himself somewhat knowledgeable in the histories of Ravenclaw and the many stories about the four heroes. However, he had been unable to identify the creature, only its purpose.

"Remus," he said suddenly, "he recognized the summon monster on that tapestry in the library. He said he knew it."

"What?" she asked. "How? Only those who practice the art know of the creatures names."

"Really?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Ginevra frowned. "If he knows a summons name that means he is its master."

-

The next day, just as the sun peaked over the horizon, they arrived outside of the city gates. Sirius was grumbling about his destroyed leather boots while Severus had been forced to shed his robes in favor of black pants and shirt so as not to slow them down. The rain had started out sprinkling them lightly, but soon the clouds had turned black and they had all been soaked through to the skin.

Ginevra and Seamus' clothes had been treated for the harsh conditions and they had lived with this strange eternal rain their entire lives, so they did not say anything beyond answering a few questions about the surrounding farmlands. Hagrid, used to and glad for interesting places, was quiet as they trudged along.

They entered the city ready for battle. They were greeted with silence. The only sound was the splash of rainwater. Stone buildings, sturdy and built to last, had been reduced to rubble, leaving the path to the palace a field of death. Ginevra had been reduced to tears, her eyes hard with anger as she walked before them, spear at the ready.

"My people," she said softly, looking at the destroyed buildings for some sign of life.

"Ginny!" everyone reacted. Sirius drew his daggers, lowering himself into a defensive position while Severus had called up a ball of lightning magic. Hagrid had readied his own weapon; a large, heavy club and his body glowed with magic.

"Bill!" the princess rushed into the arms of a willowy male elf that had appeared from a small building. He looked harassed; his blue eyes ringed with shadows and dried blood on the right side of his face.

"Where's Fred?" he asked, embracing Ginevra. She drew away from him, her face drawn and somber.

"Dead," she said. Bill's blue eyes softened, his throat working quickly to control his own sorrow. Elves revered life above all things and the death of an elf was a travesty. Sirius wondered vaguely where the other elves had gone. "Father, where is he?"

Bill shook his head.

"The last we saw of him, he was in the palace. Fleur went into labor, we couldn't evacuate with the others. I've been worried about the knights finding us," he answered, looking uneasily back at the building he had just come from.

"Are you planning on going?"

"No, we'll travel onto Ravenclaw, Fleur refused to seek shelter from our cousins."

"Of course," Ginevra scoffed.

"What will you and your friends do?" Bill asked, looking to the others.

"We will press onto to the palace and check and see if my father is there. If we cannot find him, we'll move on," she answered. "I only hope that we aren't too late."

"The Gryffindor army retreated this afternoon, they left for Gryffindor. I'm not sure why though, but I am still fearful that they might have left troops behind. They're working with Slytherin."

"What?" Severus stepped forward suddenly, looking angry.

"The knights had black mages with them."

"The Black Mage Conclave in not a representation of the kingdom of Slytherin, they act of their own free will."

"Either way, these black mages alongside Gryffindor's soldiers have destroyed our home. It will take years to rebuild," he said bitterly. "I must return to my wife."

"Brother," Ginevra said quietly, and Bill looked at her sharply. "We will stop whoever is behind this, I promise you."

"I hold you to your word, Sister."

-

The palace was a beautiful building of yellow and black stones build intricately into a harsh, squared structure. Despite the straight edges that even Severus was having trouble getting used to, it was a pretty sight as rain poured down the ridges, creating miniature waterfalls. A statue in onyx stood outside the palace, built into the wall. It was of a elven maiden with long curled hair falling down her front and back. She held a spear in her hands and wore armor similar to what Ginevra wore.

"Helga Hufflepuff," Severus murmured as they stood in the courtyard, gazing up the statue. Ginevra stood nearby; shoulders tense while Seamus looked around for signs of trespass.

"She's lovely," Hagrid said kindly looking at the twenty foot statue.

"Lady Helga was a powerful dragon knight. She is revered by the dragon knights. It is long believed that this statue protects the palace and the royal family no matter where we may be in the world."

"Nice story," Sirius said, looking up at the statue and frowning. He was getting sick of listening to conflicting stories about these people. "But, how do we get inside?"

"Through the door–" the elven princess stopped speaking, looking sharply around the courtyard. "There is someone inside," she said.

Before anyone could protest, she had taken a running leap onto the balcony, using her spear to send her rocketing upward. Sirius watched with a mixture of awe and irritation as she landed gracefully on the third floor balcony. Seamus followed her and they disappeared into the dark room beyond.

"Show offs," he grumbled, looking for a way up to the balcony. Gazing at the statue, he saw several handholds that would enable him to climb up to the balcony.

"You two try to find your own way inside," he said hoisting himself up onto the foot of the statue and reaching for the shin guard that would be his next handgrip.

Severus watched him for a moment, scowling at the ridiculousness of the entire situation before he turned to the giant.

"I suppose we had best make sure he doesn't get himself killed."

-

Sirius found himself walking along a dark hallway toward the soft murmur of voices and the flickering light of candles. He could see Ginevra and Seamus hiding in a nearby alcove and he stole over to where they were, surprising both of them.

Crouching down beside them, he looked down into the courtyard where three figures stood, looking up at the rain. The first was easily recognized as King Cornelius of Gryffindor in his pinstriped cloak.

"Cornelius really is behind this," Ginevra said angrily.

"Then that woman beside him is," Sirius trailed off.

Seamus nodded.

"Yes, General Granger, she is a cold-blooded monster who knows no mercy," the elven male answered. Sirius looked at him in surprise. It was the first time he had spoken.

Ginevra frowned; this curly haired woman dressed in armor was the General Granger that haunted her nightmares. She tried to remember what little she knew of the General of Gryffindor. Her only memory was of her betrothed, and his promise to return to her once he had become strong enough to defeat this knight. However, he hadn't. She had learned of his death through rumors and whispered tales at the pub. Since then, she dreamed of killing this woman.

"Who's that?" Sirius asked, motioning to the dark haired man that had just appeared. Wearing flowing robes of a deep black material, it seemed blue. His upper arms, as white as snow were bare to the elements. From his wrist to his elbow, folds of the same cloth as his robes covered the white skin, hanging loosely to form a wide sleeve. Feathery strands of ebony hair hung just past his waist, free from binding.

"This rain is rather pleasant," he said, tilting his head back to enjoy the feeling of the cold droplets as they fell from the sky. "The heavens are blessing this victory."

King Cornelius made a noise of disgust.

"Yes, the black mages have made this victory possible, Regulus. I really must congratulate you. My only concern now is finding the king of Hufflepuff. We must take care of these elves now. The land will be a wonderful addition to my kingdom. Granger, what is taking so long?"

General Granger, standing nearby, saluted.

"I've order Crabbe and Goyle to search the palace, but I have heard no word so far, Your Majesty," she answered.

Regulus smiled wistfully.

"You my dear are wasting your time," he said with a smile.

"What?" she demanded, bristling almost cat-like at his words.

"The elves have fled, no doubt to that sandy tree house north of here," was the answer, soft and malicious.

"You mean the Burrow," Granger clarified. When Regulus nodded, she cursed. "Unless we can get through the sandstorm, it will impossible to attack them there."

"Sneaky bastards," Cornelius growled, looking to Regulus. "Surely you can do something."

"Of course," the mage answered, smiling at the Gryffindor king. He looked once more at the General, crossing his arms casually over his stomach, the sleeves fluttering almost as if in a wind despite being soaked by the rain. "Could you prepare your troops for an assault? The mages may not be enough."

Granger nodded angrily at him.

"Certainly," she growled.

-

Sirius cursed. "We've got trouble," he said lowly.

"Who is he?" Ginevra asked, gazing at the human mage below.

"No idea," Sirius grunted, "but I'm going to kick his ass if I get the chance, the bastard, celebrating the annihilation of an entire race. Is what they say about the Burrow true?"

Ginevra shrugged.

"Ronald would know that better, he is from the Burrow," she answered. "We have been separate from them for many years now, since before I was born."

Sirius jumped up as someone appeared below from a room they couldn't see. Another elf, looking angry as he rushed toward Cornelius, General Granger, and the strange man called Regulus.

"George!" Ginevra gasped, standing up. "No, you fool."

She leapt over the balcony railing and down onto the dance floor. Seamus followed her and Sirius, never one to be left behind, used the balcony to lower himself down onto a wine cabinet and then down onto the floor.

"Idiots going to get himself killed," he growled as the door beside him was knocked open and Hagrid and Severus entered the room. The black mage's face, already pale, had turned ghastly as he stared across the room.

"What is it?" Sirius demanded.

Severus shook himself from whatever thought had crossed his mind.

"Nothing," he answered. Sirius shrugged.

"Fine, suit yourself."

-

"I will not let you destroy my people," George said, readying his spear as he glared at King Cornelius.

"George!" he turned, expecting to see his brother, instead, his sister was running toward him, Seamus at her heels. Behind them were two dark-haired humans and a giant of a man with a tangle of black hair and beard.

"We'll take care of this," said the leather clad human, holding twin daggers as he skidded to a halt before General Granger. Regulus was looking at them with only the slightest of interest, grey eyes almost bored.

"Ah, you killed Lucius," he said softly, looking at Severus with an easy familiarity. "Good to see you, Severus, it has been a while."

Severus said nothing, lightning crackling between his fingertips as he glared at the other mage. He shook his hand to rid himself of the extra electricity. It was rather clear that they knew each other.

"George, get Bill and Fleur out of here," Ginevra said, "we will handle them."

Despite his need to harm the woman before them, he nodded, taking off for his older brother's home. It wasn't until he had reached the door that he remembered that he hadn't asked her about his twin.

General Granger stepped forward, brushing a tangle of wet hair from off of her left shoulder with a flick of her wrist as she leveled her sword from its sheath with her right hand. The two-handed sword's blade was sharp and dangerous looking as a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky above them.

"I have killed a hundred men single-handedly; do you really think you stand a chance?"

Sirius made the first move, dashing forward and landing a heavily blow across her arm with his double sided sword, drawing blood. Granger laughed as the rainwater washed the red away from her bare arm and she swung her sword toward his stomach in the hopes of cutting him in half. At the last minute, Sirius twisted away and the general landed a heavy blow across his side. A rib cracked painfully as he fell back with a grunt of pain, his weapon skittering away from his hand.

"A scratch," she said, smiling down at him and prepared for another strike. She was met halfway by the steel end of Princess Ginevra's spear. The two struggled for a moment, Ginevra forcing the sword up and to the side as Sirius struggled to his feet and dashed toward his weapon. Severus sent a blast of lightning streaking across the ground toward Granger's feet, but she deflected it back at him with a powerful reflect spell.

The mage collapsed to the ground with a gasp of pain, his robes smoking and crackling with electricity. A moment later, he was back on his feet.

Seamus and Sirius combined powers and attacked Granger from both sides, knocking her away from Ginevra before she could land the killing blow on the elven princess. Severus, nursing a stitch in his side, threw a blast of ice magic, this time freezing one of the metal plates on her armor. Sirius, still having held onto one dagger in case of emergencies, threw it, shattering the metal, and burying the blade into her shoulder.

With a growl of pain, she pulled it free, throwing it to the side. "Curaga!" she said, holding her sword upright. White light surrounded her and both of her wounds healed.

"She's a paladin," Severus growled.

"Figured that out!" Sirius shouted back.

Hagrid cried out a spell and suddenly the air swirled about the group, the wind the purest of whites. Sirius felt his ribs heal, the pain disappearing and he grinned at the giant. Severus was looking less pale and Ginevra and Seamus seemed to have found renewed energy.

They were ready for another round with the general.

But, Granger had had enough play. Lifting her sword once more, she swung it in a left downward stroke. "Climhazzard!" gold energy flashed across the sword, rising into the air and than raining down onto the group.

"Fools," she said collecting herself and sheathing her sword, once more shoving her wavy hair off her shoulder.

Sirius had fallen back onto the floor, the thief sword lying a few feet away from his right hand. Leaning on his elbows and gasping sharply, he could feel that his ribs had been re-broken. Severus was beside him on his knees panting. Hagrid was face first on the ground. Ginevra and Seamus were laid out a few feet from Granger's booted feet and she was looking down at them.

Her brown eyes softened for a moment. "Is there no one who can defeat me?" she asked softly.

"Come, Granger, we must prepare for the attack on the Burrow," Cornelius said, smiling at his general.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Granger followed the Gryffindor king out of the ballroom leaving Regulus behind. He smiled mockingly at Severus and knelt down so that he was able to look the other mage in the eye.

"You could always come with me. I could protect you from your brother's wrath," he cooed, grasping Severus' chin and forcing him to meet his gaze.

"Consider me your enemy, Regulus, regardless of our past," Severus answered, tearing his face from the other man's hand and glaring at the ground. Regulus smiled wistfully, grey eyes softening.

"If you wish it to be that way," he said, "when next we meet, I will not be so kind."

-
Author's Note: Yeah, Regulus makes his appearance finally and we are another chapter closer to meeting up with Harry...though that'll still be quite a few chapters from now...reviews are very much appreciate and they make the corners of my mouth go up into one of those smile things.

Next chapter...Remus and Weasley's adventure in Slytherin take a turn for a worst and Sirius and the others head to the Burrow to find and protect the surviving people of Hufflepuff from King Cornelius.