Werewolf Hunting

Disclaimer: Guess...

Thankyou to my adoring fans! Thankyou. Thankyou. Thankyou.

Auhtors Note: Ok... so far it's been about 4 days (in the story). Had to go through and check that. Sorry if the days are very confusing. I know I am confused and I am the one writing it.

Chapter Nine: Helping

"No news at all, Professor?" James asked softly. Dumbledore regarded the three of them solemnly over the top of his half moon glasses.

"I'm sorry boys. I have not heard from Moody since shortly after he left." The three marauders sagged.

"I can tell you however that he has some help." The three perked up at that.

"Another Auror?" James inquired eagerly.

"No. But the man helping Moody is highly skilled in tracking werewolves."

"So they have a good chance of finding Remus then!" Sirius' voice was triumphant.

"Yes, they do." Dumbledore replied.

"Thankyou, Professor" The boys chorused the left Dumbledore's office. After they left Dumbledore rose and walked over to Fawkes. Stroking the phoenix's head he muttered to him, "A very good chance. That is, if Moody doesn't kill Boewyn first."

---

Moody was finding it very hard to NOT kill Boewyn. The hunter had spent the entire walk from their apparition point to the pub in the Langley, recounting the bar-fight. In detail. His voice disgustingly cheerful while he practically bounced along next to the Auror.

"You never shut up do you?" Moody interrupted him.

Boewyn laughed, "Not if I can help it. I was born with a mouth and tongue, might as well get my money's worth out of them. I mean what's the point in having them if you don't use them?"

Moody closed his eyes for a moment silently begging that sometime in the night, Boewyn would get his tongue cut out.

"You look a little world weary there, Al"

"Really? I wonder why." Moody replied dryly.

"Perhaps you need a drink. I know I do. All that fighting made me thirsty."

"Of course it did." Moody sighed

They entered the pub, Moody going to talk to the owner about rooms for the night. Boewyn gave the room a quick look over before joining him.

"Quaint sort of place this." He informed Moody.

Moody again handed over one of two keys to Boewyn saying, "Good, maybe it'll keep you out of trouble." He looked at Boewyn's face. His eye was already beginning to bruise and there was still blood on the hunters face.

"But somehow, I doubt it." He frowned as he noticed Boewyn attention was not on him but one of the barmaids.

"Be ready to go early tomorrow morning" his warning fell on deaf ears. Rolling his eyes he made his way up to bed, watching Boewyn make a beeline for the barmaid with his magical eye.

"Why me?" Moody muttered to himself.

---

It was still dark when Moody was awakened by a loud thumping on door. He grabbed his wand whilst looking through the door at who was there. To his surprise it was Boewyn.

"C'mon, Al. Lets go!"

Moody got to his feet and opened the door.

"What?" he growled.

"You were the one who said you wanted to leave early, Al" Boewyn was grinning mischievously.

"I meant after dawn."

"Pfft. Close enough. Besides if we don't get moving now we'll miss our ride."

"Ride? What are you talking about you imbecile?"

"I got us a lead to the kid, and apparating is out of the question since we got no co-ordinates, just some folks who recognised the kid and saw where they went."

Moody gaped at Boewyn.

"Don't just stand there, crazy eyes, lets move!" Moody ducked back into the room, grabbed his things and followed the disgustingly bright and bubbly Boewyn downstairs, giving the key to his room to the young barmaid who was watching the bar.

"Where are we going?" he demanded.

"Just follow me, Al. I made a friend last night who offered to help us."

For a short guy, Boewyn could move fast, leaving Moody stumping along behind him, trying to keep up. It was only just dawn, the sun peeking lazily over the horizon, trying to decide whether it wanted to come up now, or to give everyone five more minutes.

Finally Boewyn ducked around a corner, Moody trailing him feeling lost. A feeling he really didn't like. When he rounded the corner he saw Boewyn standing with a large, heavily built man. Boewyn grinned at Moody when he appeared,

"Al, this is Brishen, Brishen this is Al."

The big man nodded politely.

"Boewyn 'ere says yer lookin' fer a young man that disappeared."

Moody would have been furious at Boewyn for revealing so much about what they were doing if he hadn't been so cowed by Boewyn new friend, who was way over six foot tall.

"Yes"

"well, we saw 'im. 'Im and another bloke, wearing a black cloak and all, we're willin' to show ye were."

"We?" Moody asked

"Yep. C'mon, I'll introduce ye."

"Right behind ya Brishen!" Boewyn announced cheerfully.

They followed Brishen towards the outskirts of town, Moody falling into step next Boewyn.

"We?" he reapeated to the hunter.

"Oh yeah, Brishen's a gypsy. His band was the ones that saw the kid and his captor. Brishen says they're more then happy to let us ride with them to where they last saw the kid." Boewyn grinned cheerfully

"I love gypsies." He informed Moody. Moody could feel another life story coming on, yet he couldn't stop himself from saying, "Really?"

"Yup, my mum tried to sell me to gypsies once."

"Your mum sounds like a delightful person."

"Yeah" Boewyn said, smiling slightly. "I love my mum"

"Yes, you've said that before."

"Just making sure you know."

"Well I certainly do now"

Brishen had been listening to them banter and laughed. "You two seem te get on well." he chuckled

"I like to think it's character building" Boewyn announced, ever cheerful

Brishen laughed, and led them through a small gathering of trees. On the other side were several horse-drawn caravans, a dozen odd horses and a group of people.

"About time Brishen!" a woman's voice called.

"Don't blame me Sarika! Blame these 'ere folk. They be the ones who're slowing me down."

The woman who had spoke had separated herself from the group and had walked over, eyeing them closely. Boewyn grinned wider and strode forwards to meet the lady, "Forgive us, beautiful lady. My friend here is a lazy one."

The woman, Sarika as Brishen had called her, laughed. "Well, you're a charmer aren't you?"

Moody made a choking noise. A man walked over, not as tall as Brishen, but he had an aura that made him seem untouchable, an aura of importance about him. Boewyn looked at the man and bowed slightly, "You're majesty." He said. The man chuckled, amused at that. Brishen grinned, "Veldor. This is Boewyn and Al" Moody winced at that. "Friends, this is out king, Veldor, as you rightly guessed Boewyn."

Boewyn stood up straight again. "Thankyou for aiding us, King Veldor. I hope it's not too much of an inconvenience to you." The king grinned, "not at all friend Boewyn. We thought there was something suspicious about the man and the lad, yet we do not normally make it our business to involve ourselves in such things without knowing more about the situation."

"As is proper, Sire." Boewyn seemed to have control of the situation and for once Moody was more than happy for it to stay that way.

"Come, we shall get moving soon enough. If things go well, we should reach the last place we saw your quarries by tomorrow afternoon."

"Thankyou again, Sire"

"Both you and your friend may call me Veldor."

"As you wish." Boewyn replied.

"Do you ride friend Boewyn?" Veldor asked, amusement in the gypsy king's eyes.

"I have ridden on occasion, Veldor" Boewyn replied

"Good. I wish you to ride with me. Your friend may ride with the other in the caravans." He said nodding to Moody, who gave a nod back, glad he wouldn't have to make a fool of himself in front of these people by trying to mount a horse.

"An honour that would be." Boewyn replied to the King's statement, getting a laugh from Veldor. It wasn't long before the horses were hitched up to the caravans and two were left spare for the king and Boewyn. Moody climbed up at the front of one with Brishan and Sarika, watching Boewyn mount his steed with ease. The king raised a urged his mount into a trot, Boewyn along beside him and the caravans jerking into motion after them. Moody shook his head. This was turning out to be quite an adventure that was for sure.

Authors Note: YAY! Gypsies!

Brishen means Born during a rainstorm, Sarika means princess and Veldor means Chief.