Chapter Ten

Another kidnapping, Another team up

Severus's Point of view

"How did you two get in here?" Severus asked, exasperatedly.

"Through the portrait hole." Black answered as though that was the most obvious ting in the world. "

"But how..."

"There's no time for that." Lupin said, agitated.

"We found Pretend Peter's journal earlier today..."

"Earlier? How early do you two get up?" Severus interrupted. Black continued as though he hadn't heard him.

"Conveniently enough, he's a forgetful guy, and wrote directions on how to get to the skin walker temple, James and Peter could be there, and, if not, well... there's got to be some information there, right?" He said the last part hopefully.

"And," Severus grunted, "why are you telling me this..." Realization slowly set itself upon him. "There is absolutely no way you are getting me to go there with you. Nothing you can say is going to get me to go, absolutely nothing."

"Well, we could just bring Pretend James in here and see what happens." Black taunted, snidely.

"When are we leaving?" Severus asked immediately, getting a wicked sort of grin from Black. Some scarlet light flashed in Black's eyes, and his face seemed to melt slowly away, leaving behind the rotting skull of a deer, and a strong smell of blood and rotting meat. Severus blinked, and it was like it had never happened. Black raised his eyebrow at him.

"What's with you, " Lupin demanded, "you look like you saw a demon." He added in a softer tone, as though concerned.

"N-nothing." Severus managed to choke out, "trick of the light I suppose." Sure, that was a trick of the light, just like lumos was an optical illusion.

"Well, get dressed and meet us by the Forbidden Forest." Lupin said, and the two of them walked out of Severus's dormitories. He did indeed get dressed, but he had no intention of meeting them anywhere, especially not anywhere that would give them the advantage, like the Forbidden Forest.

An idea, however, was beginning to form in his mind, bits and pieces of information and movements, clotting together and becoming a single entity. He allowed himself a grin as he straightened his tie. It was perfect, and almost bound to work, but first he needed to get into their dormitories, and learn how they were able to copy Black and Lupin's behavior so easily. He grabbed his wand, and slunk down the halls, paying no mind to the early hours. It took him a while to find his way to it, but there it was, the Gryffindor common room. He knew it was, because a girl clad in Gryffindor robes stepped out from behind it, followed closely by, Severus's heart leaped, Lily Evens. What could they be doing up so early? He'd all but forgotten about his mission, and whipped behind a corner. Lily and her friend were acting similar to the way he was, as though they could do without being seen, although they'd come to a standstill.

"Why are we doing this again?" Lily's friend asked quietly.

"Potter and Peter are acting really strangely, not to mention suspiciously... they were up at four this morning whispering to each-other in a corner, I want to know what their planning, 'cause if they aren't cluing Lupin in on it, it's dangerous."

"What were you doing up at four in the morning?" Her friend challenged.

"I fell asleep in the common room, Chrysanthemum, and a cold draft from the window woke me up. Aside from that, Lupin and Black don't seem to know what's going on either... even Severus is poking around at it, there's got to be something bad going on." Lily replied.

"How do you know Snape is poking around at it?" Chrysanthemum giggled.

"I came across him in the library. I overheard him talking to Lupin and Black about them, but I didn't catch anything specific, but what I did hear scared me."

"What'd you pick up?"

"They were whispering but I caught the words demon, dangerous, blood magic, and summoning." Severus felt himself cringe. They'd been talking about what the Skinwalkers might be doing with the humans they captured; one of the ideas that came up was that they were using their blood in dark summoning rituals or sacrificial rituals... but he could see how someone would mistake the meaning easily if they only heard bits of it.

"And that's another thing, isn't it?" Chrysanthemum said thoughtfully.

"What is?" Lily asked curiously.

"That Potter didn't clue Black in, I thought they were pretty much inseparable.

"I thought that was strange too." Lily conceded. "They do everything together from what I've seen, what could've driven a wedge between them?" Suddenly, there was a faint white glow that appeared around Lily and her friend. Severus blinked and shook his head, and the lights had disappeared, what was going on with him.

Lily's point of view

"Maybe it was Pettigrew?" Chrysanthemum offered.

"Peter?" Lily asked, confused. "What'd you mean, Peter? How could he have done it?"

"Well, maybe when Pettigrew came back, they found out he learned or got demon magic somehow, then... just hear me out yeah, Potter takes Pettigrew's side and expects Black to take their side too, but he doesn't. Then, Potter wants demon magic too, so Pettigrew takes him to the demons at night or something and Potter gets demon magic, and in return they sacrifice people to them..."

"Like a cult?" Lily interrupted her, skeptical. "I don't think Potter or Peter would get involved with something like that."

"Power corrupts people." Chrysanthemum pushed on. "That would explain why his grades picked up, wouldn't it?"

"You know what... there could be another reason his grades picked up... it's this crazy piece of magic, I'm sure Lupin could pull it off."

"Yeah, what's that?" Chrysanthemum asked, excitedly.

"Studying." Lily answered. Chrysanthemum pouted. Someone from around the corner snorted. Fear coursed through Lily's body. "Who's there?" She demanded.

"Erm... hi, Lily." He came around into view; it was Severus. Relief took the place of the fear.

"Oh, thank Merlin it's you Severus." She said. Severus suddenly looked quite pleased with himself, Lily knew why.

"Why were you listening to us?" Chrysanthemum demanded.

"I, erm, wanted to..." Severus started quietly.

"Well, spit it out!"

"Come off it, Chrysanthemum." Lily said crossly. "He's got enough trouble with out you treating him badly too." She paused, thinking. "What were you doing here, though?" She asked kindly.

"Well, see, Potter and Black stole something from me, and I was trying to get it back."

"Wh..." Lily stomped on Chrysanthemum's foot to stop her question.

"We'll let you in."

"We will?" Chrysanthemum asked incredulously.

"You will?" Severus asked at the same time, though in a very different tone.

Severus's point of view

"Why not, you are trying to get something of yours back aren't you?" She challenged.

"Of course I am." He said automatically. Lying to Lily Evens physically hurt, but he didn't let it show. "There's something else, though." He ignored Chrysanthemum's 'Ha!' of victory. "They've been trying to help me, Lupin and..." He shuttered slightly to add effect, "Black, but now I'm pretty sure they need my help with something."

"What?" The blonde asked.

"I'm not telling you." He snarled, a little more aggressively than he'd meant to.

"Fine," she shot back, "I'm going back up to the dormitories, Lily, I didn't even want to be here in the first place." She turned and walked straight into Gryffindor tower, slamming the portrait of the fat lady closed, who complained loudly.

"Sorry, Lily." He muttered.

"Don't worry about it, Sev." She said nonchalantly. "Chrysanthemum's pretty emotional anyhow, she was going to storm off on me at some point." She frowned slightly. "So why'd you really want to get into Gryffindor tower?" Severus cringed slightly.

"Well, I wasn't exactly lying about that second part." He muttered. He could feel himself going slightly red and inwardly cursed the blush.

"Yeah?" She asked curiously. "What were you helping them with?"

"Well, we were... erm... I dunno if they'd like me telling you."

"Aw..." She said suddenly. "Are you guys all buddies now?"

"No." Severus said, revolted. A smile was creeping across Lily's face.

"So why aren't you telling me what I want to know?"

"I just... er..."

"Come on, Sev, you can tell me." She said invitingly.

"Peter and Potter were kidnapped and replaced with a type of demon called Skinwalkers, and Peter was nice to me so I wanted to get him back, and I guess not even Potter deserves that. I was helping Black and Lupin try to find them, but I'm pretty sure they've been replaced now too, and I think the demons are trying to take over the school for some reason, I have no idea what to do, and I'm scared that they're going to come after me next, and I can't find anything on how to fight Skinwalkers effectively, so if they come after me I'm a goner." He'd just blurted it out. He didn't realize that he was so scared until he started talking, and now, he didn't really want to stop. "Nobody here knows what's going on anymore and Peter was almost starting to be my friend, and you're the only thing even close to a friend I've ever had and I want to make sure Peter's okay, and the demons are multiplying, and they're learning how to act like the people they replace... I mean, if they can do that, who's to say they haven't started replacing the professors yet? Oh, Merlin, Lily, I'm terrified." Lily had stayed quiet through Severus's rant and waited, like she was going to see if Severus had more to say, before talking herself.

"Sev, why don't I help you? You're right, not even Potter and Black deserve to be kidnapped by demons, and poor Peter has to go through it twice... I say we save them, and don't worry, we'll figure out a way to figure out who's all been replaced, and we can find them too." She smiled warmly at him, and he felt as though his stomach had just done a backflip.

"Thanks, Lily." He said, breathlessly. "I... I needed that."

"Sure, Sev." She said. "Well, I think I know someone who can help us, but you can't tell anyone you've met her."

"Erm... okay." Severus agreed a little skeptically, wondering just who on earth she could be talking about.