“Wrong answer” Remus whispered as he pointed his wand in the man’s “Last chance, tell me now, or you won’t ever speak again.”

“You wouldn’t dare, you pathetic excuse for a wizard.” he sneered “Why don’t you go run in the forest with the rest of the animals you smegging…”

The man never finished his sentence, before anyone realized what had happened Raul had his fingers wrapped around the man’s throat, and was holding him several inches off the ground. “My brother asked you a question” Raul growled as the man’s companion watched in fear and dread. “Or would you like to end up like your companion?” he asked as he held up a human arm, apparently torn off right above the elbow.

Raul gazed over at Remus and the twins “Why don’t you take brother Remus inside boys.” Raul suggested when he noticed how pale and ill Remus looked. “I don’t like the way he looks. Make him sit down and rest, Hamish and I will handle these two.”

Cash and Sirius skidded to a halt when they saw the death eaters standing in front of an old section of the dungeon. Reverting back to human forms, they pressed themselves against the wall, hiding in the shadows as they decided how best to get past them and rescue Harry.

“There are too many of them to take head on” Cash said softly “and I still can’t contact the clan, so we’re on our own until Cat gets here or that spell dissolves.”

Sirius nodded “But that could be another hour or two yet. Do you honestly think Harry will make it that long?” he asked sharply “Because I have NO intention of letting him in there for a moment longer. I don’t care if it means my life, he’s my godson, I can’t stand by and wait if he’s in danger.”

“Relax Sirius” Cash pleaded, “losing your head is NOT going to help anyone.” They pressed deeper into the shadows as they heard a commotion coming from an adjoining corridor. “Oh no” Cash sighed “Isn’t that Harry’s friend Ron?” he asked as he saw a redheaded boy being dragged towards the door by the death eaters.

“Damn” Sirius sighed “We haven’t got much of a choice now, have we?” he asked, knowing Cash would no more allow Ron to be harmed than he himself would.

“You realize this is not going to go well, don’t you?” Cash asked as he prepared to attack the men holding onto Ron.

“Of course I do. But with any luck, it will be enough to free Ron and Harry. And hopefully Remus has gotten a hold of Dumbledore and we’ll have some back up soon.” Sirius said hopefully.

“Well then my friend, let us do what we can.” Cash grinned as he and Sirius rush head-long into the group of death eaters, stunning some and killing others as they yelled at Ron to run and get help……

Raul glowered at the last death eater “You saw what happened to your two friends.“ he said darkly, “Now, you have a choice, answer me, or die a slow painful death.”

“I can’t, I don’t know anything” the man said, his voice trembling with fear.

“As Remus said” Hamish began, grabbing the man by his arm and lifting him high above the floor “wrong answer.“ Quicker than the human eye could see, Hamish brought the man down to his lips, tearing the death eater’s throat open with his fangs. He greedily slurped the blood, gaining both nourishment and knowledge as he consumed everything the man had been or had ever known.

Hamish tossed the man’s corpse aside as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, “Its worse than we thought Raul. The Tremere Gustavas is in the school, he wants Harry’s redheaded friends. He wants to torture them in front of Angel’s son, to make them suffer, to bring Cash to him, to bring Angel to a frenzy.”

“Why would he care if Angel frenzied? She is only a mortal, surely she can’t do near the damage Cash or any of us could.” Raul asked, only to feel nervous by the lack of response from the usually talkative Hamish.

Raul and Hamish cleared off the carcasses of the death eaters and quietly entered the common room. They smiled as they watched several students fussing over Remus, fluffing his pillow and making sure he had enough blankets to keep him warm. “Good thing too” Hamish said softly “he looks half dead. Any idea what they did to him?”

Raul shook his head “No, but at least now we know what they wanted.” Raul and Hamish walked to Remus’s side as the students parted to let them through. “You need to see that Poppy woman my brother,” Raul said softly “and we need to talk. We found out why they were trying to get inside the tower.”

“Not to be a pest or anything,” George chirped up “but it would be nice if you could let us know as well. I mean it was ‘our’ place they were trying to get into after all.”

Raul and Hamish exchanged glances for a moment before Hamish spoke up “You two are Weasleys, right?” he waited as they nodded “Where are you brother and sister?”

“I dunno” Fred replied “Ginny’s probably upstairs with the other girls and I think Ron and Harry are knocking about, they usually are.”

Hamish placed his hand on George’s shoulder “Make sure your brother and sister are here,… now.” Fred and George looked at each other and quickly tore up the stairs, one heading for the boys dorms the other for the girls.

“What ‘is’ going on Raul?” Remus asked softly “and how does it concern Ron and Ginny?”

“Those men were sent to capture the Weasley children and bring them back to the Tremere Gustavas. He intends to use them to break Harry.” Raul whispered softly as he pretended to check Remus’s wounds. “Once I’m sure they are safe, Hamish and I will gather the others and find Harry. I assume Cash has already narrowed his location down by now. He told me he blood bonded with Harry and Sirius earlier today.”

“He what, he didn’t” Remus gasped, “I thought that could only be done with the permission of the primogen and . . . .did you give him permission to do that to them?” Remus accused “Did you let him steal their memories, their secrets?”

Raul bowed his head, “Cash is a Methuselah among our kind, he is quite possibly the oldest living Gangrel on this planet. He doesn’t need my permission, especially were his own clan is concerned.”

Before Remus could respond, George and Fred came tearing down the stairs with Ginny close behind them. “I’ve found Ginny” Fred said. “No sign of Ron though” George said, “should we be worried?”

Hamish, Raul and Remus looked at each other and turned to face Ginny and the twins. Raul spoke first “Ginny, child, I want you to stay here and look after Professor Lupin. And if Angel shows up, tell her to come to us immediately.” he said as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, guiding her towards Remus. “She may be upset when she arrives, but tell her the moment you see her, and let Professor Lupin answer any of her questions later.

Turning to the twins Raul continued “If you feel you are up to it. I would like the two of you to come with Hamish and I. After your little rescue out in the corridor just now, I think you’ve earned a place among the warriors, if you want one that is.” he explained as he offered his hand to the twins.

Fred and George looked at each other and smiled brightly, “You bet!” they answered in unison. Hamish grinned as he wrapped his strong, muscular arms around the twins and grinned at Raul “I told you they had it in them.” he winked as they headed out the door, leaving Ginny, Remus and the rest of the tower to wait for Angel……..

Harry felt his heart sink when he heard the death eaters dragging Cash and Sirius across the floor as the two men attempted to continue fighting. Harry was thankful they were both still alive, but terrified by the thought of what Gustavas would do to them. He winced as he heard the sounds of fists and feet hitting flesh, he knew Sirius and Cash would be all but helpless against so many enemies.

Harry jumped as he felt a body land by his feet, he summoned the courage to open his eyes and look down. He saw a pair of blue eyes staring into his own, a look of unconcealed horror and anger flashed across the mans face as he rose to his knees and gently touched his fingers to Harry’s battered and wounded face. ……

Sirius gasped in shock and horror when he saw what Gustavas had done to his godson. He hardly recognized him, Harry’s face was mottled with purplish bruises, his lower lip was swollen and split, and he could hardly even seen his green eyes behind the swollen lids. Sirius could feel the rage growing inside of him as he touched Harry’s cheek and saw his beloved godson wince with pain. Sirius turned and glared at the Tremere “Why?” was the only word he could manage to speak.

“Why?” Gustavas laughed, “Why to make him suffer of course. To make his last few hours ones of pain and suffering, so that when his mother finds his broken body tucked in her nice soft bed, she will understand the pain and horror she failed to prevent.” He chuckled as he lit another cigarette, this wizard promised to keep the night interesting, he was full of anger and hatred for the world, he just hadn’t admitted it…..yet. “She will look on his face and know her son wept for her, screamed in vain for her to save him, and she will drown in her own guilt for not being here for him.”

“You can’t protect him you know,” Gus continued as he walked towards the wizard “you never could. He was marked for death from the moment of his birth, he is the sacrifice that is required before the Earth can burn. And his dear, sweet mother will be the one to light the first fire.” Gus explained as he blew the smoke into Sirius’s face “But you’re more than welcome to watch him die…. Oh wait, I forgot… I want him to watch you die. How silly of me.” he added as he backhanded Sirius, sending him sprawling across the floor as Cash growled loudly from the other side of the room.

“Don’t worry Methuselah, I haven’t forgotten about you.” Gus told him, not bothering to even turn and look at Cash. “I’ll take care of you after I’m done playing with your pet wizard.” Gus grabbed Sirius by his hair and pulled him up off the floor, smirking as the wizard tried to defend himself “Tell me old man, were you planning on embracing this one? Was he to join you for eternity? Keep you company?” he asked, implying their friendship went deeper than it should. “Is he any good Methuselah? Does he fill your heart with desire,… would I enjoy him?” Gus asked as he leered as Sirius, his hands groping at the wizard‘s most sensitive flesh.

Sirius felt his stomach churn as the Tremere touched him, it was too much like being back in Azkaban. Sirius had sworn to himself that he would never again be that helpless, that despondent,…even with all the troubles he and Cat had between them, he never truly gave up hope that they would work everything out. He knew he had to hold on to that hope, he had to believe that Harry would survive and that Cat or Albus would get back in time to stop the Tremere from killing anyone else.

Sirius stared at Gustavas with anger in his eyes. He refused to allow this monster to harm Harry or Cash, they were like family to him. Hell, they ‘were’ family to him, and he would sacrifice everything to keep them safe. As Sirius’s mind tried to come up with a plan, he heard the whispers of a familiar voice, it was the man from this morning, the man who claimed to be Merlin. “Remember what I told you my boy, remember what I gave you.”

Sirius nodded and reached out for Gustavas, only this time instead of swinging widely, in a vain attempt to make contact, he instead grabbed the Tremere’s wrist and gripped it tightly in his hands as a soft golden glow emanated from Sirius’s skin.