Carry On

Carry On

By: Teenlaunch

Disclaimer: I wouldn't be writing if I owned it.

a/n: Okay, I give up on the every other Thursday thing. It will probably still be every two weeks, but trying to keep up with college and still get this out on time is a pain! Sorry. I'll still keep it coming. It will probably just be at odd intervals sometimes. Thanks for reading! (Remember to review and check out my profile for my poll.) Sorry it's so short again. But at least it's headway.

--

Sirius bounded around the dorm happily. "Hogsmeade weekend! Hogsmeade weekend! Come on, Prongs! Sing with me!"

James rolled his eyes and looked over at Remus' bed. The curtains were drawn but James knew Remus wasn't asleep. He tapped lightly on the bedpost anyway. "Remus? Remy, you awake?" Remus sighed in answer. James smiled, just like Remus. "Do you feel up to going to Hogsmeade?"

"Uh-uh," Remus moaned, sounding like a whining child.

"Alright. We'll bring you back some chocolate. And make sure Times doesn't bother you."

"Uh-huh."

"Well, bye."

"Bye."

Remus sighed when the door closed and opened the curtains around his bed. Two days after the full moon and he was still sore. That might have been because his friends had fought viciously with him to make him stay away from another creature in the forest. One thing was certain. Moony had not wanted to go to Hogsmeade. Something had drawn him to the forest that night, and Remus understood what it had been now. But, true to his word, he hadn't told the Marauders. It had been Century. There was no doubt in his mind.

Remus had been debating about telling them. He had no reason to keep it from them. Century had lied to him about Harry knowing. Remus looked over at Harry's empty bed. He had almost completely stopped sneaking out at night. That much was sure. But Harry was still always tired, so much that his eyes were constantly rolling back into his head. It seemed every time he actually did lie down in bed, he had such bad nightmares that he barely caught a wink of sleep, though the others rarely found out.

Remus forced his stiff body into motion and made his way to Harry's bed. The room lurched unpleasantly and he laid down on Harry's bed, closing his eyes to make it stop. He shouldn't be doing it. It was something weird enough that Sirius would do it. But this bed was so soft and warm. Perhaps it was because it wasn't his bed. It couldn't hurt to just take a short nap. After all, he really didn't feel like moving now.

Remus frowned in his sleep when voices started ringing in his head.

"Stop panicking. I've seen you like this before and it was worse then."

"Who says I'm panicking?"

The voices died out and then came again, this time with a slightly apprehensive tone. "Something bad's going to happen."

"How do you know?"

"Voldemort's going to try something. I just feel it."

"Harry, it is one day after the full moon. I have none of my normal translating skills right now. Please speak English."

"I saw his plans. They weren't very clear, but I know it has something to do with a student at Hogwarts, and it's planned for this Hogsmeade weekend. I don't have a real connection yet so I don't know what it is exactly. Do you understand? I saw his plans, but they weren't his, they were his!"

"Harry!"

"We have two almost equally matched men here. One at the height of his power and the other bent on revenge. And the one I can't do anything about is planning something. There, better?"

"Well, that at least had a few discernible words in it."

The voices cut off and there was silence then, "Kill me!"

"No! No, no, no, no! You said it wasn't poison!"

"Kill the spare!"

"It's too late, Harry. He's gone."

"NO!"

Remus bolted upright in Harry's bed and jumped out of it, brushing himself off as though it was diseased. How had that happened? Was Harry so plagued that his bed was even absorbing the energy he gave off during his nightmares? No, this was obviously where Harry felt weakest and that was where magic had a tendency to leak out. This had happened for a reason.

Remus froze, perhaps what he saw hadn't happened, but perhaps it had. Harry had mentioned Voldemort and a plan. And if it had been real, it was planned for today. Roughly translated, the other Marauders were in trouble.

His mind made up, Remus dove for James' trunk and ran out of the dorm at full tilt.

--

Harry sighed and swirled the rest of his butterbeer around in his bottle, staring sulkily around. The Marauders were sitting in the middle of the room, entertaining Madam Rosmerta with some new joke. Harry rolled his eyes and had lifted his butterbeer bottle to his mouth when he noticed four people in black robes were moving toward him. He reached for his wand, but relaxed slightly when they sat at a table a few feet behind him.

He recognized three of them immediately, even with their hoods up: Lucius Malfoy, McNair, and Fenrir Greyback (whose mouth seemed to be watering). The fourth was familiar too. Harry squinted and growled. It was Bellatrix Black, already working for the Death Eaters. They were all leaning in, talking quietly to each other, casting glances toward the Marauders. Harry's eyes narrowed. He leaned back, putting his heels on the table to keep his chair balanced and tried to look relaxed even as he eavesdropped on the Death Eaters.

"He isn't here," McNair growled.

"Patience. We will find him. Our Master's spy said he's on his way." Lucius drawled, stirring his drink idly. Harry frowned. All that told him was that someone at Hogwarts was being tracked by Death Eaters. The spy wasn't important. Harry would bet his broomstick it was Snape.

Madam Rosmerta walked by his table hissing, "Feet down."

Harry slowly lowered his chair and grumbled. He hadn't wanted to use magic when he could get by without it. He gave a small twitch of his finger and the Death Eaters' words echoed in his head. "It's only been two days since the full moon. He'll be weak enough that we can take him or kill him if need be," Lucius said.

"Yes, but he may refuse, and I get him if he does." Greyback's voice seemed to shake in anticipation.

"You're only here because we might have to track him," Bellatrix snapped.

"And you're only here because Lestrange put in a good word for you. I'd watch my tongue if I were in your position." Greyback hissed. Bellatrix opened her mouth, a snarl on her face when Greyback whined and Harry saw him put up a hand to stop her. If Harry hadn't known better, he'd say Greyback was mad, but he grinned the next moment. "He's outside. Doesn't seem to want to come in. Perfect. He's probably going to wait for them by his little shack."

The group stood as one and headed out the door, letting in a cold burst of air. Harry's mind was reeling and he suddenly jumped up, running for the door. He disregarded the cold and ran along the road, hoping to catch up with the Death Eaters, but their footprints stopped. They had apparated, taking Bellatrix with them. Harry stopped and looked around. They were after Remus. He had deduced that much. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath to calm himself, and apparated into the Shrieking Shack. He glanced around to get his bearings and then launched himself at a boarded up window, tearing two boards away. He crawled through the hole and repaired it quickly. Harry crept to the front of the house and froze. The Death Eaters had already gotten to Remus. Harry crouched by the shack's crumbling chimney and enhanced his hearing so he could follow the conversation.

"What do you want?" Remus asked quietly, his eyes on Greyback. Harry swore quietly. Greyback was the one who had bitten Remus and Remus recognized him without seeing his face. There went the hope that Remus would keep his head on straight.

Lucius smiled genially. Harry grimaced at the twisted look it gave his face. "We have a proposition for you, Lupin."

"What makes you think I want to listen to you?"

"The Dark Lord is gathering all the werewolves of Britain under his protection. He has sent us to offer the invitation."

"Sorry, I decline."

Bellatrix started forward. McNair held her back as Greyback stepped in. "Just think about the possibilities, little brother." Harry saw Remus flinch and scowl. "You could take revenge on the ones who have persecuted you! You can live among your brothers. You can help the Dark Lord conquer the wizarding world!"

"Why would I want to help a madman take over the world, all the while getting revenge on those who have persecuted me when the only one I want revenge on is you!" Remus launched himself at Greyback and they fell to the ground. Before Harry could react, McNair had pulled Remus off Greyback and held him pinned against his chest. The others trained their wands on him. Harry closed his eyes. Why could nothing ever be easy?

Harry stood, making as much noise as possible, and slowly advanced toward them. "This isn't a very fair fight." He looked around at them, and asked wearily, "Can't you find some other game to play?"

Their heads snapped around to look at him. "Who are you? Potter?"

"Who wants to know?"

Bellatrix snarled and turned her wand on him. "Let's take care of them both! This whelp insulted my family! I think he should die slowly and painfully. Wouldn't you agree, boys?"

"What?" Remus roared, face contorted in fury. "He's a Death Eater, just like you! Why kill one of your own?"

The Death Eaters laughed and Harry growled. "How thick are you, Remus? Would I be helping you if I was on their side?"

"If you wanted to fool me into thinking you're not one of them!"

Bellatrix laughed. "So, the Marauders think the little Potter look-a-like is a big bad Death Eater? You're so pathetic! You can't help the werewolf! You'll be dead soon enough." Harry saw her mouth curl into a smirk even under her hood.

"You're the one who's pathetic, Bellatrix." She reeled slightly, obviously shocked. "And don't deny that's who you are. I know all Death Eaters by name. The whole lot of murderers you are."

"And you're about to find out why they call us murderers!" McNair threw Remus to the ground and rushed Harry, who ducked and used a tripping jinx to make him fall. Lucius grabbed Bellatrix's arm just as she was about to cast the Killing Curse.

"Greyback, McNair, kill them! I have to make sure Bella isn't caught!" They disappeared with a loud crack.

"Coward!" Greyback roared, though Lucius was already gone, pinning Harry to the shack wall. "At least now I get to do what I want with you." His claw-like nails dug into Harry's arms, drawing blood. He smirked. "Don't tell me you're not scared, boy." His mouth was dangerously close to Harry's neck, ready to sink his canines into Harry's flesh.

Something sparked in Harry's mind at the word 'boy' and his magic responded. It threw Greyback away from him. Harry had recently found that his magic reacted to his emotions now that he had mastered wandless magic. He really didn't understand how he'd done it that quickly, but the drain on his magic had all but disappeared. Perhaps it was because he practiced every day.

Harry staggered forward and caught himself on a nearby tree. McNair whipped out his wand and Harry flew backward, slamming into one of the many trees around him. Before he could get his bearings, McNair started throwing him against every tree in sight. Harry screwed his eyes shut as his glasses exploded after a particularly hard hit. He was forced to take the pounding for a few more moments as he focused his magic. Flames appeared in his hand and he released a fireball toward McNair. He yelled and disapparated, leaving only a cloud of smoke behind. Greyback cursed and did the same.

Harry groaned and relaxed into the snow. He was sure blood was everywhere. His back had been slashed open by the sharp bark on the trees and, each time he'd hit one, he'd coughed up blood. In Harry's books, that wasn't good.

Harry opened his eyes, not realizing he'd closed them and almost screamed in frustration. The lenses of his glasses had been blown out, and he knew nothing about fitting prescription lenses. All that was left of his poor glasses were the frames and fragments of glass, leaving Harry with a rather displeasing handicap.

"Times?" Someone asked quietly from a few paces away.

Harry turned his head. He could make out Remus leaning against a nearby tree. Harry hoped he was unhurt but he was obviously shaken. Before Harry could answer, he heard pounding along the lane leading to the shack. Harry stared up at the cloudy sky as it came closer.

"Remus, Remus! Are you alright?" It was Sirius. Harry turned his head so he could at least see them. Sirius and the others were crowded around Remus.

Remus nodded. "I'm fine. Just a little shaken."

"You can explain when we get back to the dorm. Come on." James slung an arm around Remus' shoulder and started forward.

"But, Times-" Remus protested weakly, voice easily projecting how torn he was.

"Leave him here. Someone'll find him." Sirius murmured, dragging his friends away.

Harry groaned and relaxed again, feeling snow seeping into his bloody clothes. He sighed. He would have gotten up and went back to Hogwarts, but he had a feeling that if Lupin came looking for him and he wasn't there, well…He didn't want to intentionally make Moony that mad. Hopefully, Lupin wouldn't take him to Pomfrey, but he couldn't get his hopes up.

--

But I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for I am keeping watch.

-Zechariah 9:8