Title: Saishū Yume
Author: Ex-Professor Remus Lupin
Rating: R
Genre: Action/Adventure/Alternate Universe/Romance
Era: None
Pairing(s): Remus/Sirius, Severus/Harry, etc.
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: Twenty-six chapters. I'm all a flutter. I've reached the end of the alphabet and I'm maybe only halfway finished. I hate to sound like an asshole, but could I please get some reviews on this chapter. The lack of reviews on the last chapters makes me cry tears of emo. Anyways, special thanks to my beta, HK, for dealing with my horrible grammar and spelling.
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Chapter Twenty-Six
Gryffindor
-
General Granger ran through the castle halls, stopping as Remus appeared at the top of the staircase leading up to the royal chambers. He looked ruffled, and it was clear that he had been sleeping just a little while ago. His eyes were red and stained with tears from standing on the balcony as the smoke drifted across the water. He moved swiftly down the steps, meeting her at the bottom as she saluted briefly.

"The knights are gathered and ready for orders," Granger said quickly. "We don't have many, but some of the squires are being given weapons as we speak."

Remus nodded, retying the belt on his robe so that he looked at least a bit more put together than before. Granger averted her eyes, turning back toward the line of knights that stood nearby. There were perhaps twenty, mostly men, but there was one woman, a new squire that had only yesterday begun her training to be a knight. She was shivering in fear as Weasley appeared, leading a young boy of perhaps sixteen dressed in armor and carrying a sword, out of the armory and placed him at the end of the line. He saluted Remus when he saw him and the fifteen knights and seven squires all saluted.

Remus bit his lip.

"We are ready for your orders," Granger said watching the prince's indecision on what to do. His aunt had returned to Ravenclaw due to her pregnancy and needing to see her doctor, which meant he was on his own.

"General," he said carefully.

"Do not worry, Your Highness," Granger said softly, stepping toward the knights and squires. "I want two of you to get a message to Ravenclaw immediately, you two," she motioned to the two squires standing beside Weasley, "get to it."

Remus nodded when she checked to see if it was all right that she gave the orders. The prince watched her carefully as she did, hoping to pick up something. She finished giving the orders, and they disappeared, most of them going into the city to protect the citizens. Then, turning to Remus, she smiled.

"You cannot be expected to be perfect at this when you are so young," she explained simply, glancing at Weasley as he walked over to them.

"I want you both to go protect the people as well," Remus said suddenly.

"No, Your Highness, someone needs to stay and protect you," Weasley protested.

"No," Remus' voice had turned to steel and it was clear for a moment that he was truly King Cornelius' son. "You are the most powerful knights in this city, protect the citizens. I will protect myself."

Granger bowed her head and she left the room, drawing her sword as she went. Weasley frowned after her and then glanced at Remus, looking at if he was going to say something. He shook his head, and turned, following Granger out of the room.

Remus sighed.

"I can't sit idly by," he whispered, touching the red and black stones hanging around his neck. "Father," he swallowed. "I need your help."

The jewels flared with blue light, pulsing beneath his fingers and he cried out in alarm as the blue energy swirled momentarily around him and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

-

Those that had somehow managed to make it out of the burning sections of town alive were coming down the street toward the city square. Others were running in fear as Bahamut raged above them, occasionally landing in the city and crushing buildings and people under foot. It was just past midnight and parents carried their tired and frightened children through the streets.

Granger stood shoulder to shoulder with Weasley, his strength giving her the courage to stand strong. She hoped that she was doing the same for him. His sword was drawn as well, gleaming in the firelight, his head and face covered by his helm. She could see his eyes, blue and cold in the light.

She herself wore only a minimum of armor and her clothes were made to allow her to move smoothly. She relied on her speed and sharp blade over her defense, so it was good to have Weasley, his defense and strength far greater than her own, standing at her side.

"This is it," he said suddenly.

She glanced up at him and saw fear reflected in his eyes as a large fiend spotted them, it's massive centipede-like body moving swiftly toward them. Brushing back her hair from her shoulder, she steeled herself for the battle.

"I will give everything for Gryffindor," she said softly.

"As would I," Weasley said and he met the monsters pincers with his sword, forcing it up and allowing Granger to twist her sword and plunge her weapon into its soft underbelly. The monster howled and collapsed as she drew her sword back, covered in black blood.

"Come on!" Granger shouted as a building collapsed nearby, fire licking the sky. She motioned down the street and ran, Weasley following behind her, going slower in his heavy armor.

Another centipede appeared, lashing out at them and she met the strike just as Weasley appeared, his blade sliding across the monster's belly, spilling blood down on them. Spitting black onto the walk way and wiping it from her eyes, she glanced at Weasley. He was cutting down another one that had appeared.

She shouted as another one came up from the side, catching her with its pincers and slicing open her leg. Her sword moved up, catching it and going through the skull. She was covered with blood and sweat and she and Weasley pressed on, killing the creatures as they moved and she ignored the sting as the monsters blood mixed into her wound.

"Are you hurt?" she asked as they stopped after killing several more of the creature and watching a family run in terror.

"A scratch," Weasley said. "You?"

"It's futile," she said, motioning to her leg and watching his face twist with worry and surprise. "We should return to the castle, the others should have returned."

"Or they could be dead," Weasley said softly.

"No," she shook her head, the stranded blackened with blood. "To many people have died already. We need to go back."

"No, I vowed to protect this city with my life," Weasley said. "I–" he trailed off, blue eyes filling with emotion.

"Weasley," she breathed, touching his arm gently. "We can do nothing if we are injured. We must return to the castle. Protect Remus."

"Then I will protect you," he said gently, removing his helmet and catching her hand, stained with blood. "Hermione."

"Ron," she spotted the centipede and her brown eyes narrowed as she released his hand, readying her sword. He was at her side, sword raised. "I will protect you as well."

The battle went swiftly and they ran back up the street toward the water, taking another street to reach the dock. As they neared it, Weasley reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her to a stop on the grass.

"What?" she asked, catching sight of a centipede coming out of the shadows from a nearby building.

"Hermione, I–" the monster was too close now and she took her arm back and steadied her sword.

"Save your valediction, Ronald, we will live to see another day," she said harshly, motioning to the centipede. Weasley nodded, and they went back into battle, the unsaid words spurring them to new hope.

-

With a soft moan, Remus stumbled to his feet, fighting against something in the air. Music filtered down from above and he looked around the empty entryway in the hopes of seeing the source. He was alone, the music and tension in the air his only companion. Shaking off the weight, he moved up the stairs and into the royal chambers.

The music was louder here, and he gazed around the sitting room for the source. Once more, there was no way to explain and the tension in the air was thicker, pressing down onto his shoulders more heavily. His left hand reached up, winding tightly around the red and black jewels hanging from his neck. Instantly the tension was gone and he took a deep breath and moved toward the small oak door against the back wall.

Behind it, stairs twisted upward into darkness. Gazing up the first flight, he tried to remember what this place was. He moved carefully up the steps and remembered that this led to the battlement and the crystal sword at the top of the castle.

He paused at the door, hand stilling on the handle. Something was pulling him here and he knew he had to move forward, open the door, but he stopped, gasping for breath and amber eyes closed as he tried to find some balance so he could go on.

The feeling passed and he pushed open the door and gazed out across the battlement and at the glowing crystal sword at its center. The music was here, somewhere, and he moved out, closing the door carefully behind him.

Moving forward, he found himself at the center of the battlement and found a staircase, curving gently downward. He followed it down and arrived at a circular landing on the front side of the castle. The stone beneath his feet was etched with intricate symbols. Kneeling down, he ran his fingers over them. They pulsed beneath his fingertips and he gasped, straightening and looking around, expecting something to happen.

"What is this place?"

-

Harry stood at the prow of the ship, the wind blowing his hair wildly. Sirius paced nearby and Severus and Ginevra watched them both. Behind the wheel, Narcissa fiddled with a dagger as she watched the captain with narrowed eyes. The captain was caught between exhaustion and fright as his eyes flickered between the dagger in Narcissa's hand and the nearing mass that was Gryffindor.

"No!" Sirius snapped to attention, following where Harry was pointing. Even from this distance, he could see the fires that covered most of the city.

"Remus," he gasped, turning around and barreling into the helm. "Can we go faster?" he demanded.

"We can't push it," the captain said shakily. Sirius' gray eyes narrowed and he looked at Narcissa. She nodded, moving toward the captain and he shrank away. "Okay, we'll go faster."

Sirius nodded and moved back out on deck. Harry had turned away from the burning city, eye brimming with tears as Sirius approached. He watched the summoner for a moment and then gasped as the green and blue stones hanging from his neck flared with blue light.

"Remus," Harry breathed, his eyes closing for a moment.

"Remus? Harry, what's going on?" Sirius asked, moving toward the summoner quickly and grabbing his shoulder, shaking him a fraction until his eyes snapped open again.

"I–" Harry swallowed. "This light, it's the Holy Judgment."

"Holy Judgment?"

Harry pulled away from Sirius' grasp and moved to the prow of the ship, his footsteps steady as they pulled nearer to the palace. Bahamut raged over the city, blasting the Forbidden Forest far below and crushing houses as he moved.

"The jewels are the key," Harry was murmuring as he walked. "That's why they were so important."

"Harry!" Severus cried out in alarm. Sirius blinked and then looking at the prow of the ship, he realized what had happened. Harry had jumped.

-

He fell, but something slowed him down as he plunged down toward the castle, blue light erupting from the jewels he wore. As he neared the summoning circle, he saw Remus, fingers wrapped tightly around the jewels hanging from the chains around his neck, the blue light escaping from between his fingers.

Twisting his body as he slowed, he landed gently on his feet in front of the prince, grinning. He was lucky to have survived.

"Harry?" Remus asked, gazing at him in surprise. "How did you–?"

"Remus, the four jewels, we can defeat Bahamut!" Harry shouted.

"What?" the prince's amber eyes widened with disbelief. "How?"

"We can, give me your hands," Harry held out his arm hands. Remus gazed at him for a moment, lost for words. Finally, with a nod, he took Harry's hands in his own, winding their fingers together.

"What now?" he asked, the blue light from the jewels nearly blinding now.

"We pray," Harry said, and he closed his eyes.

"For what?"

"For hope."

-

Sirius hung over the edge of the airship, gazing at the city as they landed. Severus stood beside him, clutching the railing tightly in his hands, black eyes narrowed. Glancing at the mage, Sirius sighed.

"Can you Apparate us into the castle?" he asked.

Severus gazed at him sharply and then nodded. Sirius grabbed his arm.

"Good, do it."

-

There was a flash of blue light and Granger froze where she stood on the embankment outside of the castle. Wings, massive wings that could only belong to an angel had just erupted from the castle in a flash of blue light. Raising her hand to shield her eyes, she saw the wings stretching out across the sky. Whatever they belonged to was massive in size, bigger than the castle.

Another dragon?

She heard a howl and the wind picked up violently as Bahamut flew overhead. Grasping Weasley's arm, she watched in horror as the black dragon released a blast of fire directly at the castle.

"No!" she gasped, the wings curving inward toward them from both sides, forming a shield between the castle and blocking it from view, white feathers the only thing she could see.

The fireball hit with a crackle of energy and then erupted in sparks of blue light, falling away to rain upon the two knights below. Granger caught one of the glowing blue lights and it flashed gently in her hand and faded into nothingness. She gasped, gazing up at the angelic wings and they furled open once more and the creature they belonged to was revealed.

But it wasn't really a creature, but a castle. It was a beautiful mass of stonework, standing on stone legs above Gryffindor castle protectively, its white wings, tinged with blue energy, fluttering gently. It radiated power and safety and Hermione fell to her knees, tears coming to her eyes. But, Ron was there, an arm wrapping protectively around her shoulder and she could hear the emotion in his voice as he told her to keep moving.

She remembered the prince then and her stomach lurched as she and Weasley moved into the castle to protect him.

-

Bahamut raged and Hogwarts', steady wings fluttering gently, released blue rays of light toward the dragon king. Twisting away, Bahamut swerved out of the way, but the light turned and came down again. It became a chase, the great dragon twisting into the sky as the blue rays followed, until finally, he could run no more and the blue lights struck.

There was a bright explosion and the dark eidolon was gone, only the softly glowing figure of Hogwarts left in the short battle.

Regulus, standing in the square below, laughed...

"So beautiful," he breathed. "Hogwarts, the legendary eidolon. You wish to defend the castle with your brilliant wings. Admirable."

He paused, looking at the swirl of clouds above the city.

"Your power transcends even Bahamut's. Invincible, come forth! You're mine, Hogwarts!"

-

The swirling clouds parted and the red eye that had captured Bahamut, hovered above Hogwarts' massive body. White wings curled once more to cover his massive body and the castle. Inside the ship, James collapsed, gasping in pain as another figure hovered over him, red eyes narrowed angrily.

"First you turn on Regulus by trying to take the ship and than you aim to stop me from killing him; how noble," the figure growled, laughing. "But Regulus has gone too far, little summoner. He thinks he can defeat me. Idiot. But, that doesn't matter."

The figure turned away from James' curled body and moved toward the glowing eye at the ships center. "I will show you who you are defying Regulus. You to, Sirius."

-

Regulus glared at the ship.

"What happened?" he demanded. "Enslave Hogwarts as you did Bahamut!" he stopped, biting his lip and twining a finger around a strand of his hair. "I know it's you. Why have you seized control of the Invincible?"

-

Sirius lurched forward as Severus Apparated them into the entryway of Gryffindor castle. He closed his eyes and grabbed the mage's shoulder to keep from falling over, or vomiting onto the floor. The feeling passed and he opened his eyes to find Granger and Weasley standing in front of them, staring at them, equal looks of surprise on their faces.

"Where's Remus?" Sirius demanded just as Severus was asking, "Where's Harry?"

"W-we don't know," Weasley said.

"Fine," Sirius turned and he ran up the stairs to the royal chamber.

"Wait! You can't go in there!" Granger yelled after him, finding her voice. The mage cocked an eyebrow at her as he turned to follow.

"Stop him," he said simply.

-

It didn't take long to figure out that the royal suite and other rooms did not contain either Remus or Harry. Which left them coming up out on the battlement, and they stopped, gazing at the massive eidolon that was protecting the castle and the Eye floating above. The castle shuddered.

"What the hell?" Sirius said, as he and Severus used each other to stay standing.

-

Above, the Eye widened and a blast of energy enveloped Hogwarts. The wings lit with fire and energy charged through Gryffindor castle, sending a tower crumbling to the ground. Remus watched, eyes wide as Harry tugged fretfully on the sleeve of his robe. Turning away from the destroyed castle, he looked up, the crystal sword at the castle's center was cracked and it was falling toward them.

Ducking down as piece of crystal rained down on them, the massive piece of the castle fell, breaking the stone that kept the circle connected to the castle. Harry had been halfway up the stairs, calling to someone above. The stone circle shuddered and broke away from the castle. Collapsing to his knees, Remus closed his eyes as he fell.

Something landed beside him and his eyes snapped open.

Sirius.

Wrapping his arms around the thief's neck, he was grateful when he felt an arm go around his waist and suddenly he was not longer falling. He opened his eyes again and they were hanging from a rope hundreds of feet above the ground as the stone and crystal shattered on the ground below. Remus smiled, holding onto Sirius tighter as Severus and Harry pulled them back up.

As they separated and climbed back onto the steps, Severus grasped Harry and Sirius' hands, telling the prince to take his wrist. When he felt the cold fingers wrap tightly around his wrist, he closed his eyes and they were gone.

-

The blast of energy burst through Hogwarts' wings. Granger and Weasley had barricaded themselves and the castle staff in the dungeons and as most of the building collapsed, they prayed that they would be able to make it out of the rubble.

Fire rippled across the water and into the city, taking out the buildings nearest the city that had escaped Bahamut's wrath.

Above, inside the Invincible, the figure watched impassively.

"More souls have returned. Eventually, every one of these souls will no longer belong to this planet. Regulus did well, a shame he let his abuse of power corrupt him. I did not want him die this way. Perhaps," the figure shook its head, "perhaps this is his fate. Even I cannot escape my fate; someday, I will have to face him and I will kill him."

-
Author Note: Oh, foreshadowing. Go me. Not really. This chapter makes me unhappy. It probably has something to do with having to write Hogwarts as a being rather than as a place. Ah well.

Next Chapter: The aftermath of the destruction of Gryffindor takes its toll…