A/N: Just so you know, the first paragraph contains a soliloquy. That's like a big speech either to the audience in a play, or to one's self. It is done with an Elizabethan flare, but it's the only one. I've told some of you before, but keep a close eye on the soliloquy if you want hints to the future. If it slows you up too much you can just ignore it because it's mostly ranting anyway. Also there is a rather frisky but very mild homosexual scene in this chapter but nothing worse than PG-13 or T in the rating system. Thanks for reading and SORRY it took so long! I also haven't done a Disclaimer in about thirty years so… I don't known any aspects or characters or anything else involving J.K. Rowling's universe and works and other such things. Hurray.
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Sirius grinned and pulled Lupin down against him, "Come on Moony, why so eager to run away?"
"Because we're outside, Sirius!" Lupin snapped.
"That never bothered you be-"
"We have children to look after, and it's going to rain." Lupin said as he stood, "Very soon."
"Can you really smell that, or is that just your excuse?" Sirius asked.
"No it's not my excuse." Lupin said indignantly, leaning back against a tree, "You just always happen to do things like this right when it's about to rain."
Sirius stood up and took Lupin's hands, "The children are fine, Remus; Snivellus and Tonks are on the beach with them. Everything is fine; you can let go for a while."
Lupin looked doubtful for a moment, and then smiled, leaning forward and kissing Sirius. Sirius pinned Lupin against the tree as his kisses found Lupin's throat. Suddenly a string of angry violent shouts startled both men. Sirius straightened and Lupin ducked around him, sprinting into the forest towards the noise.
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George glanced over his shoulder as he stepped into the woods; the sun was hidden behind the thick canopy of trees. Everyone had laid down to rest but George could only stare at the sky and grow angry at himself. He stared up at the trees for a moment and wished for one of his parents, just one, to be with him, "Am I the only one who thinks this is the best thing that could have happened?" he muttered, "When our only options were to sink or swim into the belly of a whale was it wrong of me to wish for a disaster? Something's happened to them; I sleep and yet I am also the one who remains awake. They are lucky to miss what it is that I see. The lover of a whore sires only another, after all, and the strong and weak creatures serve only to rend each other until death takes them both. I take the dreamer's path through this forest and none will wake me until I find what it is that I seek; I must find myself in this dark place lest Sleep herself be my eternal mistress. The dun smoke of hell wraps around the moon and blots out its great light… perhaps for the best. The ermine turns stoat when at last the adder is upon her. All of this becomes in summer… all of this because of what I have done, what I will do. What won't I do to ensure it is done?"
"George?!"
"Aye and now the moon's light is upon me." George spat, "To force me away from myself; give my life to death and strike me down! I know your face! The smoke will light upon you soon enough!"
"George! George wake up; you're dreaming!"
George cried out and struggled against Lupin as he fought to hold the boy, "What's wrong with him?!" Sirius called, running into the clearing from the woods.
Lupin shook his head as the boy finally awoke and fell against him, "He was sleepwalking; I'm pretty sure he didn't want me to wake him up. Are you alright, George?"
"I was lost." George muttered, rubbing his eyes, "Which way is the beach?"
"I'll take you." Lupin said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder as he started to come around, "It isn't far."
"I'll wait here for you, Remus." Sirius said quietly.
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"SEVERUS!"
Snape jerked awake and sat up; Tonks had been shaking him, "What is it?!"
"It's the Bulgarian boy; he isn't breathing." Tonks said.
Snape was on his feet in a second and at Viktor's side in another, "When did it happen?"
"A few moments ago, I started screaming as... as soon as he stopped breathing." Hermione said, struggling to keep from panicking.
Snape looked over the gasping boy; his chest was rising and falling too quickly to allow any real airflow, and although his face was calm, Snape was certain that the boy was too upset to slow his own breathing, "He's breathing, but not well." Snape muttered, looking around before narrowing his eyes and shouting, "Longbottom!"
Neville made his way to the scene cautiously, still obviously afraid of the professor, "Y-yes?"
"Do you know what Coltsfoot looks like, Longbottom?" Snape asked, "Chamomile, Burdock?"
"Yes sir... I... I know all of th-those, sir." Neville stuttered.
"Then go and find them!" Snape snapped, "And be quick about it; he won't last long."
After a second more of staring Neville turned and ran into the woods while Snape scowled down at the Bulgarian's barely-moving chest, "Granger, you stay with him and keep pressure on his chest."
"On his chest!?" she demanded, "But he can't-"
"He is breathing too fast." Snape said as he stood, "If you can get him to slow down he will be able to get more air. Nymphadora, I want you to find some rocks and try to start a fire by… hitting them together, I believe."
"Where are you going, Severus?!" Tonks demanded.
"Only an idiot would leave this boy's life in Longbottom's hands alone." Snape replied, walking off into the woods after the flustered boy.
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"Coltsfoot is found along paths and disturbed places." Neville muttered to himself, "Chamomile is found in dry soul and Burdock grows in… in…"
As Neville recited his past Herbology lessons to himself, Snape walked up behind him and rolled his eyes, "Burdock can grow anywhere; it's the time I'm worried about. We don't have much."
Neville jumped and sighed, "Professor Snape, I'm sorry; I was-"
"Time, Longbottom!" Snape snapped, "Just keep your eyes open."
Neville nodded sullenly, watching for the herbs as they continued walking, "Professor Snape?"
"What now?" Snape muttered.
"Ginny Weasley is pregnant." He said, the words sort of tumbling from his mouth, "I… it's my fault."
Snape stared at Neville for a moment, "You dreadful idiot." He said quietly, "Why did you wait to tell me this now? I suppose you want me to fix-"
"No." Neville interrupted bravely, "I can fix it; I know how to fix it. I can give her Pennyroyal and Nutmeg and Mugwort-"
"You could kill her." Snape said, "Unless that's your intention."
"She's trying to take me down with her." Neville said, "Now is something happens you'll know… you'll know it was me."
"Longbottom." Snape said, unsure what else he could say, "I'd suggest you rethink some things."
"I found the Burdock, Professor." Neville said, kneeling by the small plant and pulling it from the ground as if their conversation had never taken place.
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"She's pregnant?!" Tonks gasped.
"And you think he's going to try and kill it?" Lupin asked calmly.
Snape shook his head, "I think he told me so that he can't. He knows what we would do to him if he did something that stupid. He never really wanted to do something but… he was afraid that he couldn't resist. Longbottom has always been a coward."
"What are we going to do? Ginny Weasley is pregnant." Tonks said, "She's only fourteen years old."
"And Longbottom is only fifteen." Snape muttered.
"Well why should we worry with him? He's the one who did this." Tonks said, crossing her arms, "He shouldn't even be allowed to touch her."
Snape looked at Tonks, scowling, "Not alone, he didn't, and he's going to need as much help as she is with a baby! He's an idiot."
"Which is why we should keep them apart!" Tonks shouted.
"What damage could he do now, she's already pregnant." Sirius muttered.
"He is the father of a child, Nymphadora! Because of a stupid thing that both of them did while under circumstances children should never have to face." Snape said, "He is a father, whether he likes it or not."
"You seem very concerned about this, Severus." Lupin said, impressed.
"I know that if we don't do something Longbottom will just end up like one of us. He'll be a childish idiot who is frightened of responsibility because he doesn't want to fail anyone, or he'll be a work addicted protector of some childish idiot that can't stop blaming himself for every time the idiot fails, or he'll wind up cold, angry and incapable of affection." Snape growled.
After a pause Lupin—determined to defuse the awkward situation—asked, "What are you going to do for Viktor?"
"I don't want to treat him until he has another attack, and I'll check on him before I talk to Longbottom." Snape said standing and leaving the clearing.
"So... are you the idiot?" Sirius asked.
"We're all idiots." Lupin replied, standing with a sigh.
Ron scowled as he watched from the darkness outside of the clearing; he rose to his feet and ran off towards the beach.
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Harry winced as a slight rain began to fall; it turned the sand at his feet to mud as he stood. Small drops of water wound their way down his pale chest and fogged his miraculously unbroken glasses. Ron grabbed his slick shoulder and spun him around suddenly, "I have to talk to you." He whispered.
Harry stumbled slightly as he turned, "What is it?"
"Go over and wait for me over by the rocks, alright?" Ron muttered, "I'll be there in a second."
Harry nodded and walked off as Ron turned to find Goyle; the larger boy was sleeping beside Draco and the pale blonde's arm was wrapped tightly around Goyle's. Ron closed his eyes to hide his disgust as he nudged Goyle with his foot. Goyle jumped slightly and scowled up at Ron as the rain began to come down harder; Draco sat up and rubbed his eyes, "We'd better move, Greg."
Goyle glanced up at Ron and stood slowly, "I'll find you in a bit." He muttered, following the redhead as he led him off down the beach.
"You really shouldn't let him touch you; it's disgusting. We're all going to start thinking that you two-"
"That we what?" Goyle snapped, scowling.
"I didn't mean anything bad, mate; I was just saying." Ron comforted as they reached Harry's side.
"What is this all about, Ron?" Harry asked.
"I heard the adults talking; they said Neville admitted that he lied to you about Dumbledore. Says he helped them find us and that his grandma was behind it the whole time. She deserved to die, the old cow."
Harry and Goyle both looked surprised, but emotion laced Harry's words when he spoke, "Longbottom… did this to us?"
"I knew he was a git, but this?" Goyle sounded doubtful.
"We have to teach him a lesson." Ron said, "We'll take him out into the woods… we'll make him wish he'd never been stupid enough to get on with friends like those dirty Muggles."
Harry nodded and gave a weak sigh, wandering off to think by himself as Ron remained behind with Goyle, "We need to talk."
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"You fancy my sister, don't you?" Ron asked.
"Sure, who wouldn't?" Goyle replied, "She's pretty enough."
"You want to get her away from Longbottom?"
"Yes." Goyle said darkly, his features growing dark as a shaft of lightning tore the sky above them.
"Me too." Ron said darkly.
"Longbottom didn't really lead the Muggles to Dumbledore, did he?" Goyle asked.
"No." Ron admitted, "But I need Harry's help. Ginny is pregnant."
Goyle looked as though he'd been slapped in the face, "Pregnant? Is it… is it his?"
"Yes." Ron said, "He told Snape about it while they were off looking for a way to cure that idiot Bulgarian."
"I'll do whatever you need me to do." Goyle growled.
"Just get Longbottom away from my sister long enough for Harry and me to grab him. Take her picking fruit or out for a walk; she's a sucker for things like that. Do you think you can handle this?" Ron asked.
Goyle nodded and Ron smiled slightly, "You'd better get back to Malfoy before he suspects anything."
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A/N: Oh my God I'm so sorry this took so long. I really hate leaving you guys hanging for so long but I'd rather give you a good chapter than a thrown together one. Anyhow, what did you guys think? I might take a week or so with the next one just because I'll be so busy, but don't give up on me!