Chapter 19

Lupin

Lupin loped over the terrain on human legs but with the agility and grace of his animal double quickening his pace. His eyes could see where no mere human could see and he could hear the voices of his brothers. His mind was clearly that of a human but shadowed by the animal inside.

He was looking for them; going to them. He could give his friends a chance to escape because without the werewolves hunting them there was no wizard or witch with such exquisite senses as his and they could not be followed as easily. If he had heard Hermione's thoughts he would have had to acknowledge he was sacrificing himself. He was already hurt and there wasn't much more he could do. Voldemort had won at least as far as he was concerned.

The night sounds quieted as he passed; small creatures burrowing, crickets taking up their song, and muffled skittering sounds. He was familiar with them all. His life had been spent counting the days of the moon, not the sun; because, he was a son of the moon.

He met up with Fenrir and three other werewolves; one a boy of about Harry's age. Lupin stood waiting for them in a clearing and he bared his teeth in a feral grin when he saw the young man.

Grayback Fenrir stopped and strolled into the clearing and faced him calmly although Remus could sense their blood-lust was up. Fenrir spoke with a husky voice, "Hello, Remus. I always gave you credit for having brains but I see I have been mistaken. You walk right into my hands." He circled around him while the others waited. "Where are they Remus? Give them up and I may let you live. Remain silent and I will let them..." he nodded at his friends, "...tear you to pieces."

Lupin stood very still and studied the young man who followed Fenrir. He remembered what it had been like when he was that age, when he had been saved by Dumbledore, and Hogwarts and even, James and Sirius and Lily. He had retained most of his humanness. He could now see in the eyes of the other, the young boy, that his association with Grayback so early in life had turned him. The boy smiled at him and yawned wolfishly to show his pearly white canines.

A dense fog began to roll into the clearing like a gigantic gray animal crouched low to the ground. It was eerie. There was no wind and yet it moved fast as if it were really alive, stalking them.

Lupin studied the situation and saw no escape. He was outnumbered; and it would be a bloody fight. He had no wand and the others carried none. His kind did not resort to the use of wands, they used their teeth and claws.

A voice spoke in the dense soup, "Grayback, it is I, Snape. Don't act hastily with Lupin. The Dark Lord will want him." The dark figure of the old potion's master strolled in through the tendrils of fog swirling up and over his head and into the overhead canopy of the trees. The half moon was up and weak beams of light shone through the fog.

"You don't fool me, Snape," Grayback snarled. "We come from the prison. Malfoy seeks to find you and personally kill you. He now knows of your betrayal." The yellowed fangs were plainly visible as he pulled back his lips and wrinkled the elongated nose. "I will relish watching it."

Snape stopped and shook his head slowly. "That's a shame Grayback, a crying shame."

Lupin watched both of them swinging his head back and forth. He gawked at Snape who was looking almost too at-ease.

"A shame you will die a most unpleasant death Snape."

A cry of indescribable horror and pain rent the air overhead. The fog now lay so thick on the ground they all stood very still and only their bodies were now visible like mummies shrouded in gray grave wrappings.

Lupin recognized the screaming voice; it was Malfoy.

"It seems our esteemed friend has tried to destroy a Horcrux, Grayback," Snape said casually.

"Hor...?!" the words were barely out of the werewolves' astonished mouth before the young werewolf at his side, in his eagerness for blood, launched himself at the figure of Snape.

Lupin dropped to all fours and bull-headed himself into Fenrir. The other two werewolves were taken off guard and unsure of who to attack first. It was enough of an advantage for Snape to throw something into the air. The substance was invisible because of the mist, but the granules began to rain down on them all.

It was like acid. Lupin was under Fenrir who had bared his teeth and was trying to disembowel him with his long ugly talons. The substance missed him for the most part, he felt it on the back of his hands and wrists. Fenrir reared back and howled in agony. The boy scampered on all fours into the dark and the other werewolves followed close behind, all howling in pain.

Snape managed to find the two of them struggling on the ground and with his help, they forced Fenrir to the ground whereby Snape once again threw the substance over him. Grayback screamed in agony and began to smoke. He rolled away and slipped out into the darkness, his howls were muffled by the surroundings.

"What...what the devil did you do?" Lupin said brushing at himself and feeling the substance eating away at his own clothes.

"It nightshade," Snape answered and brushed at Lupin's clothes with his bare hands. "It's an ingredient for Wolfsbane. I gave my wand to the Granger girl and it was all I could find. We need to leave because Fenrir may be able to return and he will have help." Snape yanked at Lupin's clothes. "Can you walk?"

Remus was still crouched on his knees and feeling the effects of the nightshade. It was all he could do to not erupt in his own fierce howling. He had also been hurt in the dungeons and could barely take a step unaided. The man jerked him to his feet and threw his arm around his shoulders and Lupin was surprised at Snape's strength. He could feel the cords of muscle beneath the wizard's robes.

He pushed away from Snape who maintained a hold on his arm. "Were you bitten?" Lupin gasped, trying to see in the dark. " Did he bite you?" He couldn't see if Snape was injured.

"No, he didn't bite me," Snape growled lowly. "Why would you care anyway if he did bite me?"

Remus was taken back for a moment and then allowed himself to be half carried, his arm slung over Snape's shoulder.

"Why? Why did you come back for me?" he gasped as he felt his injuries.

Snape cursed as his foot caught in something and then he pulled him roughly through the undergrowth. They were ankle deep in water walking along a shoreline of some scummy pond. Remus couldn't see anything in the fog or the dark and wondered at Snape's ability to put one foot in front of the other.

"How can you see where we are going?" Remus said grunted and reached with his free hand out into the dark like a blind man searching for his way.

"Why don't you speak a little louder and maybe your friend will find you again,"' Snape snapped.

Lupin frowned in the dark but hung on. "So why did you come back?" he asked softly. " I left you to take care of the girls."

"I believe they are capable witches and didn't need my help. Besides I'm not helping you..." he grunted a little as they moved over the uneven cold and soggy terrain. "I'm helping the Potter boy."

"Why can't you just call him by his name. It's Harry...Harry Potter. Lily's son by-the-way, in case you've forgotten." It was Lupin's turn to sound nasty. He knew it was a barb designed to infuriate Snape.

"You never did read the diary did you? Lily's diary?" Snape asked softly and pulled him up a steep embankment. They stood huffing and struggling for breath. Neither could see the other's face.

"No."

"You tricked me?" Snape said rather than asked.

"Yes."

"Fair enough," Snape said and pulled Lupin's arm around his neck again.

They walked for a few minutes and Remus concentrated on just moving his feet until he felt a warm substance running along his arm. At first he thought it might be his own blood and then realized his arm was not hurt.

He stopped, and jerked his arm away. "You have been hurt!"

"It is no matter, Lupin. We are going to be dead if we don't reach that gorge and cross it. There is more protection on the other side." Snape was breathing hard and Remus wished his eyesight could be even sharper than it already was, because regardless of the acuity, he couldn't see a thing.

"So you were bitten?"

"No, I fell on something sharp when the boy jumped me," Snape hissed, obviously in pain. "My head is cut that's all. It's nothing. Now can we get on with it?"

"No, I don't think we can," Remus said. The fog had dissipated a little and something- star shine or a little moonlight- shone through just long enough for him to see a dark, slow-moving figure behind Snape. He said one word, "Inferi." He could think of lots of ways to die but being eaten alive by ghouls was not one of them.

Snape moved into action immediately. He grabbed Remus' arm and threw him over his shoulder and began to run. "We...dis...turb...ed the wa...ters," he huffed. "Stupid...of me!"

Lupin was being joggled and the movement caused him to lose his breath. He couldn't speak and couldn't struggle free. All he could do was try and watch behind them. Inferi were very slow moving. Even so, he thought Snape probably couldn't run far enough to escape them.

...

Hermione threw herself flat on the invisible surface over the gorge and waited for the dragon either to breath fire and catch her alight and burn her to death or sweep her up in its talons and carry her off; perhaps even take a bite with the large ferocious teeth that lined the mouth. Her cloak with the fox in it wiggled furiously. She closed her eyes, pulled the cloak in close to her belly and waited.

The fog that had rolled in over Snape and Lupin was her saving grace. The dragon had seen the movement from afar and had circled once to pin the creature below down. Now as it circled and studied the ground the fog rolled in off the ocean and obscured the gorge below. It circled again having lost sight of its prey.

When the fog became so dense that it covered everything but the hottest molten fire the dragon roared in frustration and flew back down the valley. It was then Hermione felt Tonks tugging at her cloak. "Get up! Get up and run Hermione!" Tonks shouted.

Hermione flew across grasping the bag to her chest. The two women ran into the darkness of the trees and fell under one of them. They held each other and tried to catch their breaths. It was then they also heard the shrieking scream coming from the prison.

"What was that? Hermione gulped.

"Don't know, don't wanna find out. Come on,' Tonks gasped and pulled at her again.

"Tonks we've gotta wait for Remus and Snape," Hermione said, once again getting to her feet, tiredly.

The light from the gorge was enough to illuminate Tonks face. Her eyes were glittering bright. "They aren't coming Hermione. They went back to give us a chance to get away."

Hermione looked over her shoulder at the way they had come and then back at her friend. "I'm so sorry Tonks...about...about...Remus."

Tonks shook her head and grabbed her robe again. "Let's not waste their sacrifice."

...

"PUT ME DOWN!" Remus barked.

Snape lowered him to the ground and then went to his own knees.

They were inches from each other's face. "Are you mad?" Lupin asked more quietly, gasping for air. They were now at the edge of the gorge. Thankfully the fog had settled down to the ground and was not blowing out. Lupin looked over the side of the cliff into the murky abyss. He could see the fires below. He turned back to Snape and wondered if he looked as bad as Snape looked. The man was losing blood very quickly.

"Many people think I am," Snape answered.

"You never answered my question, Snape," Remus said, pressing the issue.

"Which one Lupin? You have asked so many?" Snape wrapped a cloth around his head to stop the flow of blood from his head. There were several deep cuts on his face from running blindly through the dark.

Remus shook his head, feeling great tiredness. "Why...did...you...come...back after me?" he asked.

Snape stared at him looking as exhausted. "It is not for the reason you think. I ask no forgiveness for what I have done. I do not seek redemption. Potter was transported to Hogwarts. The Triwizard cup returns to Hogwarts and The Dark Lord is there." He raised his eyebrow as if the gesture was enough to say, 'get it?'"

Lupin sat back on the parched grass and turned in the general direction of Hogwarts. "He'll go after him."

Snape nodded, "Yes. He'll go after him. The sound we heard, I'm sure, was Malfoy trying to destroy the Horcrux. Bella brought the cup to Azkaban. Potter was suppose to take hold of it and become possessed by the Dark Lord."

Lupin turned back to look at him in horror.

Snape continued, "I think the Dark Lord would take up permanent residence inside the boy if he can. The locket was no longer viable and perhaps Malfoy has succeeded in destroying the cup. Hopefully, he has destroyed himself in the process.

"That still leaves the snitch and the snake," Lupin sighed. "Voldemort will still be very strong.

Snape's dark eyes shone with the fires that leaped up from the gorge below. He nodded again. "We need to get there. Potter will not trust me, but he will trust you. We need to stop him. It is too soon and his effort will be wasted."

Lupin understood. He struggled to his feet and looked down and placed one foot on the invisible surface over the gorge and then turned to Snape. "Let's do this together." He reached a hand out to help the man up. Snape looked at it for a minute and then reached out and took it.