Cat gasped as she felt Sev’s warm hand on her leg. “No, Sev, have some mercy... please” she insisted. “I’m not a machine, I’m flesh and blood, and even I need some rest and time to recover.” She explained as she kissed him tenderly, wondering what he reaction to her refusal would be.

Although disappointed at first, Severus quickly realized how thoughtless he was being. He had been in her so many times over the last several hours she had to be raw from all of his attention. “Of course my dear, I apologize” he replied as he kissed her hand softly “But may I still hold you?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding her in his arms.

Severus smiled as he felt the corner of the ring box that was in his pocket jabbing against his thigh. Everything was going so well, he simply ’knew’ she would accept his proposal of marriage. He wondered if he should ask her now, but hearing her stifle a yawn, decided to wait until supper, after all, what better way to begin a night of romance. He chuckled as he heard her fighting off another yawn. “Perhaps you should take a nap Catri, you seem a bit tired this afternoon.” he said softly as he kissed her neck.

“Do I?” Catri replied knowingly, “Can’t begin to imagine why, not as if I’ve been working out or anything.” She squealed as Sev tickled her playfully, only to end up having him wrap his arms around her and squeeze her tightly against himself. Cat sighed softly, he couldn’t he be like this all the time? She hated having to gauge his mood swings, or to have to quell her own affectionate nature because he felt it ‘improper’ to show such displays of emotion in public. But at times like this, he could be so wonderful, so gentle and playful, so contented, ….it reminded her of the way life had been with Sirius…..

Cat felt her insides churn as she realized what she had just thought, it had been praying on her mind since they left the ball last night. She knew in her heart of hearts she still wished it was Sirius with her, but, she kept reminding herself, he was married now, untouchable. But the look on Sirius’s face when he caught her looking at their star still haunted her. As if to prove to herself that the image was nothing more than a ghost in her mind, she leaned back against Sev, cuddling against him as he stroked her hair and kissed her neck. She felt as if she was betraying him by even thinking of Sirius, it wasn’t fair to him, and it certainly wasn’t healthy for her. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes as she tried to chase the memories of Sirius Black from her mind.

Severus sighed contentedly as he watched Catri close her eyes and gently drift off to sleep in his embrace. The past eighteen hours had been the nearest thing to heaven he had ever experience. He could not help but smile as he traced the curves of her face with his fingers, she was so soft and warm, so unafraid of life, so full of love. Sev wondered how much different his life would have been if he had been able to win her love away from Black when they had been students. Surely, at the very least, he would have become a father to several children by now, and he was sure his heart would have learned to forgive instead of growing hard and cold.

Severus shook the bitter memories of his past from his mind as he slowly leaned backwards, resting his back against the cushions as he gently pulled Catri with him, enjoying the warmth and softness of her body against his own. Within minutes they were both sleeping soundly in each other’s arms……

Harry looked up at Gustavas through his swollen eyes, no longer caring about his broken glasses or his wand. He simply wanted to make the pain stop, he would have gladly passed out, but he was terrified the moment he lost consciousness, his mind would instinctually call out for Cash, leading him to his death. As it stood, he had no choice but to bear the mind-numbing pain and hope Cat came back soon.

Groaning as Gustavas grabbed a fistful of his hair, Harry felt his head being jerked upwards as the Tremere admire his brutal handy work. “Well, you have her stamina, I’ll give you that much…not that it will do anything but prolong your suffering.” the vampyre said scornfully as he glared down at a defiant Harry. ….

Lucius sneered at the vampyre “I told you this wouldn’t work. Just kill him and be done with it. Potter here is notoriously noble” Malfoy spat “He would rather die than put his ‘dear friends’ in harms way.”

“Is that so?” Gus smirked as he dropped the boy’s head and turned towards Lucius Malfoy. “Would that include those impossible red-haired children he’s always with? The moment I saw them, all I could think of was Clan MacLeod.” he turned towards Harry once more, his knife now drawn and ready to be used. “They could be one of the lost tribes that old fool Maharet is always going on about. Now wouldn’t that be something? What are the chances of you ending up at the exact same school?” he laughed evilly as he saw the look of pure hatred in Harry’s eyes.

“What ever is the matter my prince? Did you think that you could thwart ‘my’ plans? I have been far too careful for that. By midnight tonight, you and the Gangrel Cash will both be dead, as will the rest of his mongrel Clan. And by the time your dear mother realizes what has happened” he continued as he placed the point of the knife on Harry’s throat “there will be no one left to stop ‘her’ from frenzying. She will destroy this school and everyone in it. She’s done it before, she lost her mind when her mother was murdered…it was delightful… hundreds of humans lying dead at her feet….she was so ashamed of herself when Cash finally brought her out of it.” he laughed loudly as he finished.

“But first things first, YOU, little prince are the one person she loves above all others. She would surrender her life for others, but she would kill to protect you. And since you are being so difficult, it appears I need to persuade you using other methods.“ Gustavas signalled to some of the death eaters, “You know which ones I want, the redheads, all of them. Bring them to me now, alive if possible… but I’m not picky.”

7Dec02

“But first things first, YOU, little prince are the one person she loves above all others. She would surrender her life for others, but she would kill to protect you. And since you are being so difficult, it appears I need to persuade you using other methods.“ Gustavas signalled to some of the death eaters, “You know which ones I want, the redheads, all of them. Bring them to me now, alive if possible… but I’m not picky.” He paused for a moment, rethinking his orders “Wait. The girl, the one that’s always trying to impress him, I need her alive.” he turned to Harry and flashed a vicious smile. “Needless to say, I can give both you and her quite an education….tender thing that she is.”

“Don’t you touch her!” Harry screamed as he pulled against the chains, attempting to reach the Tremere. “The Weasley’s don’t have anything to do with this, its me you want.”

“True” Gus replied “and I have you. But I still want the Gangrel,”

Severus bolted awake when he heard Catri whimpering in her sleep, something must be bothering her terribly, perhaps a bad dream, he thought hopefully. He became worried as he saw her hands were clenched into tight fists and she kept jerking her head, as if trying to avoid seeing something. “Catri? Catri dearest, wake up .” Severus said gently as he tried to shake her awake. But she was not responding to him, in fact, she did not even seem to be aware of his presence…..

“My, my, the little prince has his mother’s temper it seems.” Gus smirked as he watched Harry struggle helplessly against the chains as blood dripped from the boys wrists and split lip. “Well, it seems we found your weakness boy.” crouching down so he was eye to eye with Harry, Gus whispered nastily. “What about that pretty little redhead? Do you think she’ll enjoy playing with me? I’m sure I could teach her a few things.” he hinted darkly. “Of course I’ll save my best for your mother. I’ve wanted to desecrate her since she was a child.” he continued as he drug the tip of his knife along Harry’s cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood as he barely cut through the skin. “I can almost hear her screaming now, the pain, the tears…. The knowledge that her son died because she wasn’t here to save him.” he added as he pressed the blade deeper, tearing a deep gash across Harry’s face.

Try as Harry might, he couldn’t hold back the scream anymore. He could have withstood the physical pain, but the thought of his friends being tortured and kill, of his mum and Ginny being violated by this heartless creature was simply too much for him. All the pain, rage and frustration of the last few hours exploded within him, culminating in one heart-rending scream. He knew as soon as the scream left his lips it was a mistake, he knew Cash must have felt his terror and would rush to his aid, and into Gustavas’s trap. The last thing Harry saw before Gustavas’s meaty fist knocked him unconscious was the vampyre’s arrogant grin….

Remus muttered under his breath as he left Minerva’s office to continue the search for Harry. He knew he could count on her to contact Albus and Cat by whatever means necessary. He on the other hand, decided to return to Gryffindor tower, he knew Harry wasn’t there, but he wanted to see if James’ invisibility cloak was. If it was gone, maybe, just maybe Harry was actually safe somewhere. Remus sighed as he reminded himself what a long shot that truly was. After all, if someone had gone to all the trouble to convince Sirius and Albus that they were him….Remus had the distinct feeling this went far beyond polyjuice potion.

“Come on Kitty” Remus whispered through gritted teeth “your son needs you, I need you, your clan needs you. The Tremere’s spells can’t be “that” strong can they?” he knew he didn’t have to ask, not when he remembered the look on Cash’s face. Remus found it hard to comprehend how much power it must have taken to maintain such a spell, and knowing the Tremere had been using a living sacrifice only made it that much more horrific.

Remus froze mid step as he heard unfamiliar voices in the hall ahead of him. Pressing against the wall to avoid being seen, Remus carefully crept towards the sound, which were coming from the entrance to Gryffindor tower.

Remus felt his heart lodge in his throat as he saw five death eaters trying to force their way pass the portrait of the fat lady. There was no way he could stupefy them all without being hit himself, and he had no time to get help.

Reaching inside the neck of his robe, Remus pulled out a gold chain and grasped the amulet in his left hand and kissed it quickly. It had been his constant reminder of the love that Kitty held in her heart for him, she had given to him when they were dating, he had tried to give it back after he had attacked her, but she refused. She wanted him to know that he would always have a friend in her, and a home among her clan. “Please let Harry be safe” Remus found himself praying silently “Let Kitty and Sirius make up, get married and have a houseful of children. Let Harry have the family that Lily and James always wanted for him. Let Sirius finally know happiness and peace, and let Kitty finally become a mother. Don‘t let me do this for nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, Remus prepared himself for the inevitable, he knew that no matter what happened, no matter how smart or hard he fought, within the next few moments lives would be lost, and most probably, one of them would be his own.

Remus aimed his wand at the closest death eater and spoke the unforgivable curse, it tore at him to kill like this, but he wasn’t taking anymore chances, too many innocents had already suffered and died, and it was quite possible Harry was among the dead now. He couldn’t bear to lose anymore friends or students, he was only thirty seven and already he had seen more death and horrors than any man ten times his age. Remus spoke the curse again, taking down another death eater as the other three scrambled for cover, turning and cursing him as they did so. Remus was able to avoid the first two curses, but was knocked off his feet by the third.

He felt a searing pain rip through his body as the death eater hurled another curse at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. His eyes became hazy as he saw the red and black hooded figures approach him, wands extended and evil grins on their faces.

“NO!”.. ‘Oiy ,,uhgly” he heard two voices yell from behind the death eaters as Remus collapsed onto the cold stone floor as he heard the closest death eater aiming his wand at his chest and speaking the phrase “Avada..”

Fred and George ran at the death eaters, wands out and hurling curses of their own. Shashe ran along side of them, and quickly honed in on the third death eater who was in the process of speaking the killing curse on Professor Lupin….

The twins stupefied two of the death eaters, and cheered as Shashe leaped on the third, digging her claws into his back as her teeth penetrated the arm holding his wand. Fred quickly knelt by Professor Lupin and helped him to his feet as his brother joined them. “You alright Professor Lupin?” Fred asked. “Yeah” George continued “You look like you’re hurt. And what are death eaters doing in school?”

Remus breathed painfully as the twins helped him walk towards the portrait, he wasn’t sure what he had gotten hit with, but it hurt like hell. “Thank you boys” Remus said weakly as he leaned on the twins, grateful for their well timed entrance. “But you shouldn’t be out here, it’s to dangerous.”

“Yeah, so we noticed” George replied, cautiously eyeing the unconscious death eaters. “Say, do we get extra points for helping a teacher? You know, maybe make up for those points Snape took from us last week.” he winked. Hearing Professor Lupin laugh weakly at the comment, Fred and George looked at each other and smiled with relief. “Eh, George, maybe we should find Miss MacLeod to take a look at the professor here. She always seems to liven him up.” Fred teased, hoping to lighten the mood a little.

“I wish you could boys” Remus sighed as he shuffled towards the nearest death eater “because if she were here, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“How’s that?” the twins said in unison.

“The death eaters are terrified of her. They have seen what she can do” Remus explained as he accio’d the wands from the death eaters “and she would kill them all in a heart beat for endangering her students.” Handing the wands to Fred, Remus turned to George, “Help me with this one, will you? I need him awake to find out what ’exactly’ is going on.”….

Cash cried out and dropped to his knees as the echo of Harry’s scream hit his mind. “No!!! Harry!!!” Cash bellowed as he clutched his head, trying to stop the pain that Harry was feeling from overwhelming him. “Sirius, its Gustavas, he has Harry…. He’s killing him.” Cash gasped as the blood tears flowed from his bright blue eyes….

“Cash, No… he can’t hurt Harry” Sirius responded as he grabbed Cash by the shoulders. “Where is he? Can you find him? We have to save him… please Cash.” Sirius pleaded as he shook the Gangrel, trying to make him focus on Harry location.

Cash winced painfully as he attempted to quell the pain and focus on Harry’s mind and scent. “He’s in the dungeon somewhere, one of the deeper parts, but I can’t narrow it down yet.”

“That’s close enough for now” Sirius replied hastily “let’s go. They’ll have to kill me if they want to hurt Harry.” he spat as he transformed into Snuffles and ran towards the dungeon with Cash in wolf-form right behind him……