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 for the lateness of this chapter. I've been having a tough time finding inspiration lately. Once again thanks to HK for betaing this wretched piece of work.
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Chapter Twenty-Two
Memories
-
The press of a sharp blade against the soft flesh where jaw and neck met had turned to a painful bite. Heart pounding wildly against his ribcage, Harry held still against the tall blonde standing behind him, one arm around his torso, the other around his shoulder and holding a dagger over his jugular. Green eyes lit up with relief as Sirius, Remus, and Severus arrived on the scene and the blonde shifted behind him.

"Ah, our knight in shining armor has arrived," the man said, sneering at the group and the dagger moved across Harry's throat.

"You're not supposed to hurt the hostage until after you don't get what you want, moron," Harry said as he felt blood slid down his throat and beneath the neckline of his shirt.

"Shut up," the blonde snapped. Harry stilled as the blade bit deep, drawing more blood.

"Let him go!" The summoner's eyes widened in surprise as Severus stepped forward, lightning crackling between his fingertips.

"Not until I have that pretty little pendant your prince has around his neck," the blonde said threateningly. "Hand over those jewels!"

"Leave the others out of this!" Remus cried, stepping forward hurriedly.

The blonde made a sound of irritation, pressing the dagger deeper into Harry's throat. Harry hissed sharply and Severus started forward this time.

"Don't try anything, Your Majesty," the blonde said lowly.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Sirius frowned, watching carefully as Remus unclasped the two chains from around his neck, cradling the stones in his hands. With a glance towards the thief, the prince moved forward. The blonde frowned at the both of them.

"Hold it! You're planning something, aren't you?" he said. Remus' amber eyes narrowed, but he stopped, standing uncertainly between Sirius and the blonde currently holding Harry hostage. "I want the mage to do it."

"What?" Severus' black eyes narrowed menacingly.

"If you value this brat's life, you won't pull anything." With a glare at the blonde, Severus looked over at Remus.

The prince nodded, offering the jewels to him.

"Just do it," Sirius said with a heavy sigh.

"Fine," Severus growled, taking the pendants from Remus' hand and moving to hand them to the blonde.

"Hold it!" a voice shouted.

Standing lazily on top of the Eidolon Wall was a woman, a long, dangerous looking sword in her hand, the sheath hanging from her waist behind her legs. Long, white blonde hair cascaded down her back and black leather covered her body. She was glaring at the blonde man with sharp blue eyes.

"What are you doing?" the blonde demanded.

With a spectacular leap, the woman landed in front of the blonde, her sword flashing through the air, knocking the dagger from his hands as it sliced the backs of his fingers. With a cry of pain, the knife fell to the ground and the blonde released Harry, letting him fall forward. Severus stepped forward, catching him before he could fall to the ground, his dark eyes narrowed, almost dangerously.

"I'm trying to play fair," the woman answered as she picked up the green stone pendant that he had taken from Harry.

"Narcissa, you're asking for trouble," the blonde growled. "We're supposed to be working together."

Severus gasped as Narcissa pushed a strand of long hair from her eyes and smirked.

"I don't work with hostage taking scumbags, Draco," she growled. "You're just like your father in that respect."

"Draco," Severus murmured. "Narcissa. Why?"

Draco looked sharply at the mage as he spoke. Grey eyes narrowed and he laughed bitterly.

"You killed my father," he growled.

Harry coughed, hand pressed to his throat as he leaned into Severus' body. He felt the older man tense. He looked up at him, wincing as he stretched his neck. Severus' face was blank, black eyes narrowed slightly to show that he had heard what the blonde was saying.

"Oh please," Narcissa said softly, turning pale eyes to the mage. "I ought to thank you, Severus."

"Don't thank me," Severus growled.

Draco's eyes narrowed to slits and he stepped away from Narcissa. Sirius started forward, holding Angel Bless menacingly. Remus reached out and grabbed his arm, holding him from doing anything else.

"I'll get you for this," Draco spat, eye flickering over Narcissa and Severus. With a curse, he leapt up onto the wall and disappeared over it. Narcissa watched him, eyes soft with anger and loss.

"Narcissa, you can't think he's going to forgive you for hating Lucius," Severus said coldly.

"I don't," she snapped, turning on them, her sword suddenly at the ready. "Now fight me!"

"What?" Sirius demanded and pale eyes met his own.

"Don't get the idea that I was on your side. I'm only leveling the playing field," Narcissa dropped down into a battle position, her sword catching the sunlight and flashing brightly. Sirius shrugged, twisting his weapon and pulling his arm out of Remus' hands.

"Sirius!" the prince protested.

"It's okay," he said, looking back and catching Remus' eye. "I was looking for new ways to impress you."

Severus had just enough time to pull Harry and Remus out of the way before Narcissa and Sirius clashed in the middle of the Eidolon Walls courtyard. Metal clanged loudly as Narcissa blocked the sharp swing of one blade and then with another crash, forced the other blade back. Sirius stumbled back half a pace, just enough to allow Narcissa to raise her sword for a downward strike.

There was a splash of block on stone as Sirius fell back, blood pouring from his shoulder in thick rivulets. Staggering, Sirius swung Angel Bless up, catching Narcissa's sword and forcing her back this time. More blood, this time along Narcissa's leather clad thigh, was drawn.

"Cu–" Remus cried out in surprise as Severus grabbed his wrist tightly.

"Don't interfere!" he hissed.

"He's wounded," the prince pleaded.

"It is his fight. Do not interfere, Your Majesty," Severus said lowly.

Remus opened his mouth to protest, but Severus' use of his proper title stopped him and he nodded, stepping back behind the mage, watching with wide worry filled eyes as Sirius and Narcissa clashed again and again, swords making sparks and the smell of blood and sweat filling the air as they parried blows, striking whenever an opening appeared.

Soon they were both covered in blood as they struck blows, opening flesh beneath sharp steel. It was gruesome for the three magic users to watch as they stepped apart, breathing heavily and circling the other, looking for weakness. Narcissa saw it first, her body moving forward quickly, sword sliding up and across Sirius' face. Blood splattered to the ground as she twisted away, her arm catching the blade. It bit deep and she cursed, stumbling back as Sirius gained his own feet, hand wiping irritably at the blood that was trickling into his left eye.

She managed to catch him as he was half blinded, and her sword flashed in the sunlight. Sirius twisted his weapon just in time and went stumbling back into the wall with a thud. Narcissa drew back for another strike and Sirius twisted to the right and saw his opening. With a growl of triumph, he jerked Angel Bless upward and the blade sunk into her leather-protected side, near her stomach. Bloody welled up and Narcissa tumbled to the ground, hand pressed to her stomach and long silvery, blonde hair veiling her face.

Sirius stepped back, panting heavily.

"Give it back," he gasped. "Give back the jewel Draco stole."

Narcissa, beautiful face twisted in pain, nodded, reaching toward her waist and the small pouch hanging from her belt. Her hands were shaking as she drew out, not one, but two pendants. The first was the one that Harry had worn, emerald hanging from a silver chain, but the other was a deep onyx stone hanging from a soft, yellow gold chain.

"How did you get this?" Sirius asked, taking the two jewels and examining them carefully.

"A village in Beauxbatons," she replied. "There weren't any summoners, but they had the stone. I had to fight the High Priestess for possession of it," Narcissa gazed up at Sirius in confusion as he examined the jewels. "Finish me!"

"Do you really want to die that badly? I just spared your life," Sirius asked, looking down at her in sympathy. "You're free to leave if you'd like."

"I tried to kill you! Why are you letting me go?" she seemed almost distressed by this news from the thief. Sirius shrugged.

"The fight is over and we've both survived. I don't see why I should have to kill you in order to win," he said quietly. "All that matter is that we got back what was stolen from us and you gave us the Badger's Claw."

Narcissa sighed in defeat.

"Do you listen to yourself at all?" she demanded. "I can't believe I lost to some spineless thief."

"I don't kill people at whim," he explained, kneeling down in front of her, Angel Bless still in his hand. "If you'd like, Remus can heal you."

"I don't need your help," Narcissa growled, forcing herself to her feet and pulling herself up and over the wall. When she was gone, Sirius fell forward a bit, his weapon clattering to the ground.

"Sirius," Remus said.

Sirius was kneeling upon the ground, eyes closed in concentration as he tried to keep from collapsing. Remus reached out carefully and placed both of his hands on the thief's shoulders.

"I'm fine," Sirius managed weakly.

"No, you're not, Cura," Remus said softly. There was a soft white light from beneath his hands and the numerous cuts closed, leaving behind a scattering of pale, barely noticeable scars. The thief smiled gratefully at him as he got to his feet, wiping blood away with his hands.

"She's going to bleed to death," Harry said, stepping away from Severus and placing a hand to his throat. "Cura," the wound closed, leaving behind a thin, pink scar beneath the layer of dried blood. Harry wiped it away with the palm of his hand.

"I hope not," Sirius said grimly.

Severus scoffed.

"That was Narcissa the Black, she's wanted for the murder of General Lestrange," he said darkly. "You're lucky she didn't kill you for showing compassion."

"Too late now," Sirius said, cleaning Angel Bless with his blood stained pants. "Do you thinks it's at all possible that I could wear a pair of clothes and not ruin them?"

"Probably not," Remus answered for him.

"Oi, Harry, hold onto these," Sirius said, handing the two jewels to the summoner as Remus stepped back a bit, amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Put those somewhere safe, okay."

"Sure thing," Harry looked expectantly at Severus.

"What?" he growled.

"You don't expect me to go off by myself after what just happened do you?" the summoner asked.

"What?"

"I'm going," and Harry left, running back toward his house.

Severus muttered something low beneath his breath and followed, though at a much slower pace. As the mage disappeared, Sirius turned to Remus.

"Shall we?" Remus nodded.

-

When they arrived at Harry's house, they found Severus sitting at the table, hands folded on the table. Harry was sitting in the window seat, green eyes focused out onto the deep blue ocean water. Remus stayed by the door, watching as Sirius strode across the room and sat down in the chair opposite the mage.

"Well?" he asked as Severus shrugged.

"He hasn't said anything," the mage offered in explanation.

"Sirius," Severus looked up in surprise as Harry spoke from his perch. "I want to go with you. I want to find my dad. Is that okay?"

Sirius gazed thoughtfully at Severus from across the table. The mage met his eyes briefly before he nodded, imperceptibly. The thief didn't have to point out how quickly Severus had gone from hating him to – whatever.

"It doesn't matter what I say," Sirius answered and Harry looked sharply at him as he shrugged. "You've already made up your mind."

Harry was silent for a moment and Sirius grinned.

"Don't you have something to say to him, Severus?"

The mage gazed at him stoically for a moment, and then nodded curtly.

"I would not mind terribly if you joined us," he said lowly, meeting Harry's eyes. Harry grinned, leaping up from the window seat and hugging the mage tightly around his neck. Sirius laughed, standing up as Severus glowered at him from over Harry's shoulder.

"Remus," he said, looking toward the door and finding the prince had disappeared.

"He probably went outside," Harry said, straightening up a bit, though one hand was still resting on Severus' shoulder and the mage was looking ready to throttle him.

"Oh, well, I'll be back later than," Sirius said before he left Harry and Severus alone. He sincerely doubted much would happen besides some bickering. They seem uncommonly good at it, but he wasn't going to be around it when Remus had gone off by himself.

Standing on the street, he gazed around, first out over the cliff side and out into the water and then down the street toward the fountain. He glanced at the cliff for a moment before he noticed it, a small staircase just out of sight of a small rock piling. With a smile, Sirius climbed down the rickety steps toward the water and the small dock.

-

Remus looked up from his examination of his hands as Sirius appeared on the dock. He was sitting inside a small boat tied haphazardly to the dock with a small length of rope. Sirius looked battle worn, though he smiled softly at him as he strode across the dock to stand on its edge and look down at him.

"Sirius," Remus said, smiling softly.

"I'm surprised you managed to sneak out without me noticing," Sirius said, grinning cheekily. "You're really something."

Remus shook his head.

"If I am; it is only because I've gotten it from you," he explained.

The thief scoffed, waving his hand dismissively.

"You made an effort to learn."

"No," the prince shook his head once more and Sirius paused, watching him. "You stayed with me. Without you, I never would have gotten to see a new continent."

"Yes, well, the first part wasn't exactly that much fun," Sirius said as he lowered himself onto the dock's edge, his long legs dangling down so he could tap the front of the boat with a booted foot.

Remus sobered.

"Everything I try to do on my own was a total failure. I couldn't stop my father…" he trailed off for a moment, anger lacing his features. Sirius kept silent, watching him patiently and waiting for the rest. "You helped me so much. Not just you, either."

Here was his chance to speak.

"True, Severus and Harry here on the continent and the others; Ginevera, Hagrid, Weasley…even Granger, who we thought was our enemy," he smiled softly at Remus.

"I haven't forgotten," Remus said softly. "I want to believe that everyone is all right, but sometimes I lose hope. I want to live up to their expectations. I am a prince of Gryffindor above all else."

"Don't feel so responsible, Remus," Sirius said, lowering himself into the boat so that he was standing. Remus stood up as well in alarm as it tilted slightly under their combined weights and then steadied. "They followed their own paths. You give yourself too much credit."

"Their own path?" Remus breathed softly, glancing out at the deep blue water. "What about you?"

"What?" Sirius asked, the question catching him off guard.

"Why did you come with me?"

Sirius stopped, looking silently at Remus as he watched him, waiting for an answer. Sirius gazed out at the water, gray eyes narrowed in thought.

"Only because I wanted to go with you," he said finally, his voice soft as he met Remus' gaze.

"Sirius, I–" Remus gasped as the line connecting the boat to the dock snapped. The boat lurched and they both stumbled, Sirius to the bottom of the boat and Remus off of the boat and into the water.

"Remus!" Pushing himself up, he leaned over the edge just as the prince surfaced, sputtering and weighed down by his robes.

"It's freezing," Remus said offended as Sirius offered a hand to the prince, the boat drifting a little bit out into the water.

"I'll help you up" Sirius said as Remus took his hand and pulled.

With a gasp, the boat tipped over and Sirius went headfirst into the water, knocking Remus under again. The boat rocked, taking on a few inches of water as the two men surfaced, Sirius' dark hair clinging to his face and neck.

"You bastard," Sirius growled, grabbing onto the edge of the boat and holding onto it as he threaded water with one arm, glaring at the prince.

"I'll have you know that my parents were married five years before they had me," the prince said with a laugh, catching a hold of the boat as well and grinning at Sirius from beneath wet brown hair, now a dark brown with the water.

"It's a damn good thing the leather I'm wearing is treated," Sirius said, smiling a bit. He froze as Remus reached out and scrubbed at his cheek carefully. Without realizing it, Sirius reached up and caught his hand.

"You had blood on you," Remus offered as an explanation, voice soft with emotion.

"Remus," the prince looked questioningly at him as he pulled himself a bit closer. "You told me to ask, right."

"What?"

"Remus," Sirius' voice was soft, dropping Remus' hand and entwining fingers in still wet brown hair, "can I kiss you?"

Remus blinked, unsure for a moment as he gazed at Sirius, both of them soaked through with water and floating out to sea with the tide. It was entirely inappropriate, he thought. Of course, the whole thing was inappropriate. Princes did not fall out of boats. Nor did they pull people into water. He was finding it more difficult to find a reason to say no.

So he said yes.

It almost went unheard and Sirius certainly hadn't been expecting it, but he had felt it, in the way Remus' eyes softened just a bit, letting down some barriers behind them. Smiling, Sirius leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Remus', his hand resting at the back of his neck, holding him in place.

He pulled back slowly and Remus smiled softly before he started to pull himself back into the boat. Sirius held the boat, a gentle hand on the prince's back and legs as he tumbled into the boat and moved to the other side so that Sirius could climb back in as well. Before Remus could do more than sit up, Sirius trapped him against the bench and kissed him again.

"You didn't ask," Remus said softly when Sirius leaned back.

"Sorry," Sirius offered.

"We need to get back to the dock," Remus pointed out as Sirius sat down on the bench, shaking water out of his hair like a dog.

"Sure thing," Sirius said, smiling as he looked toward the dock. The sun was setting behind them and it seemed for a moment that the rocks were on fire. "Remus, look the sunset makes the cliff look like it's on fire.

Remus turned, gazing at the cliff side for a moment, and then he whispered softly. "I've seen this somewhere before."

"What?" Sirius asked. "Where?"

The prince shook his head, standing up carefully and studying the cliff, amber eyes narrowed as he tried to remember. A sharp pain hit him, near the base of his skull and he winced. Pictures flooded his mind. He could see Godric's Hallow. A fire reaching toward the sky, smoke curling upward. The vision faltered and he was back in the boat, Sirius' hand on his arm.

"Remus?" his voice was laced with concerned.

"I remember," Remus managed before his eyes rolled back into his head and collapsed into Sirius' arms.

-
Author's Note: Yes, that's right, another cliffhanger. I'm truly an awful person, but you have to admit, with cliffhangers I leave you unfulfilled and begging for more. It makes you sit around and wait for the next chapter.

Next Chapter: The group returns to the Whomping Willow in the hopes of finding Regulus…