“Raul!” Ron nearly yelled, “Am I happy to see you. Cash and Sirius need your help! They tried to help me but got caught instead.” Ron explained as the tears ran down his freckled cheeks. “Please, they’ll kill them, I just know it.”

Raul dropped to his knees as he held on to Ron’s shoulders “Calm down Ron. Who will kill them? And where are they?”

“The death eaters, they’re in the dungeon, past the old hospital wing they used during the 40’s. Harry and I checked it out once after Remus pointed it out on the map…”

“Oiy, Ron” Fred chirped “you mean the one off of the passage that leads to Snape’s office?”

Ron nodded, “That’s the one. They were dragging me down there, something about Harry and Miss MacLeod. And then Cash and Sirius rushed in and yelled at me to find Dumbledore…”

“Enough” Raul said loudly. “Ron, do as they said. Go to Dumbledore’s office and get him, tell him what you’ve told us. When you’ve done that, go back to the tower and make sure your sister and Remus are safe. Do you understand me?”

Ron nodded his head vigorously. “Then go, don’t stop for anyone but Albus or my clan.” he added as he pushed Ron towards Albus’s office. “Fred, George? Do you think your up for this? You may well die today. No one will think less of you if you chose to return to the tower and protect the students there.”

“Not a chance” George responded for the both of them. “They took our brother, they came for Ginny and us…I’d say we owe them this.” he said as he turned to see Fred nodding in agreement.

Raul looked to Hamish and nodded himself “Very well, but stay behind Hamish and I, and do as we tell you to. I don’t want anyone taking any unnecessary chances. Fred, I assume you and your brother know the way to this room Ron spoke of.”…..

Gustavas turned to Harry and grabbed him roughly by the throat. “I would be more concerned about your own fate than his” Gustavas sneered, he still felt frustrated over the older wizards lack of painful screams and pleas for mercy. “Especially since he is turning out to be less than an idea toy for me. Your screams are much more enjoyable.”

“Get your filthy hands off of him!” Sirius spat, “If I were you, I’d be more concerned with my own hide. How much longer do you think that spell is going to last?” he asked “I’ve seen her temper, and I know how fast she can move. You don’t stand a chance against her.” Sirius’s little speech seemed to work, Gustavas immediately released Harry’s throat and turned to Sirius, striking him as he did so.

“Mr. Black” Malfoy said a sickly sweet tone to his voice “Are you trying to commit suicide? Or just trying to avoid the Dementor’s kiss? After all, you must realize that should you survive MacLeod’s little temper tantrum, you will be returned to Azkaban to receive your final punishment.”

Sirius sneered at Malfoy, refusing to allow the man the satisfaction of seeing the terror in his eyes. “It looks like your friend here has already started on your punishment….Lucy.” Sirius quipped “Nice bruise… the color looks good on you, you should try it more often.”

Before Malfoy could respond, Gus’s evil laughter rang through the room. “Well, well…Lucy” Gus mocked as he leaned against the wall next to Harry, his arms folded over his chest. “It seems I’m not the only one who realizes Voldemort has grown tired of you. I honestly find it hard to believe one of these idiots haven’t assassinated you yet. As a favor to your dark lord of course.” Gus looked upwards innocently as Malfoy glared at him, and quickly honed in on Cash’s body, hanging limply from the pike.

Stretching his arms over his head, Gus gave the pike a rough shake, and smiled wickedly when he heard the agony filled groan of the Gangrel. “Good, I want to you live long enough to witness this. I want you to feel the helplessness and rage as I kill her son.” Gus stated. Then, turning to Sirius added. “To address your little comment, the Angel won’t have enough time to be bothered with me. She’ll be too busy mourning for her son.” so saying, he took out a silver flask from his pocket and uncorked it.

“Do you know what this is?” Gus asked as he waved the acrid smelling liquid under Harry’s nose “You should recognize it from your potion classes. It’s an infusion of nightshade and loadstone. Very deadly and very, very painful. I’m told it feels like you’re veins are on fire, of course that would make sense, since it burns you from the inside out. I’m sure you’ll find its administration interesting as well. You see this has to be introduce directly into the blood.” Gus explained as he took his knife and cut a deep gash into Harry’s arm……

Cat tossed and whimpered in her sleep as she tried to wake up. She knew it was another nightmare, she had been having them every time she had fallen asleep at Sev’s house. But this one was different, this one was far too real. She could feel an indescribable terror descend on her, it felt like the night she was stranded in the blizzard, too weak to even apparate to somewhere safe. It was a sickening coldness that she couldn’t escape, it simply kept coming at her, threatening to consume her with its vastness. What disturbed her even more was the sense that there was something, someone lurking just outside the range of her vision. It was watching her, mocking her, waiting for her to make a mistake…..

Cat nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the dark, deep, evil laugh and the flapping of leather wings. She didn’t even realize Severus was with her at first, not until she felt him strike her across her cheek.

“Catri!!” Sev yelled “Catri, please. Wake up!” he pleaded, his eyes becoming large with fear and concern. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and pressed her to his chest the moment he saw the glint of recognition in her eyes. “Catri, please forgive me for raising my hand to you. But I tried everything else I could think of, you were in some sort of trance.” he explained as he held her trembling body tightly against his own. “Please, say something. Anything” he begged as he reached to the sofa with one hand, grabbing a blanket and wrapping her in it to stop her from shivering. “Catri? Can you hear me?”

“Harry” she said softly “I can’t hear Harry….or Cash…or anyone else.” Catri grasped the blanket and began pacing the room, she had a distant look in her eyes, as if she were miles away from her body. “Something’s happened, I can feel it. But why can’t I hear the school, its as silent as a tomb.” She jumped as she felt Sev’s hand on her arm, looking into his eyes, she could see the confusion and concern shimmering within them.

“I think I should go back Sev.” she said softly “I don’t like this, not one bit.”

“Catri, surely you are over reacting” Sev suggested, secretly hoping that this was not an excuse to leave him because of his actions “You cannot ‘always’ hear them, can you?”

“Usually” she whispered as she closed her eyes. Sev had a point, maybe she was overreacting, it had been an intense few hours between them. She let the outside world into her as she searched out other members of her clan, if she couldn’t hear them either, chances were it was something wrong with her. But if on the other hand, the only ones that were silent were at the school…..

Sev stopped his argument when he saw Catri close her eyes and begin to glow with a soft, golden light. “Catri?” he barely whispered as he watched the golden glow wrap around her body , arching around and over her head, reminding him for all the world of the angels that the muggles put on the top of their Christmas trees.. . .

Cat’s breathing became deep and slow as she reached out with her mind, searching for her clan. Tristessa was the first to respond to her call, then Aunt Orpha, Duncan, Luke, Frank, Siobhan, Sara, Paddy. Even Leumadair and Mac Lir had answered her, and none of them could rouse an answer from anyone in the school either.

Becoming jittery, Cat decided to take the direct approach, “Show me what I want to see, where is my son?!” Cat said loudly, causing Sev to jump several inches off the floor. Still she heard nothing. Nearly frantic now, “Open the veil! Fall before me!” she all but screamed as her eyes grew wide. That was it, something ‘was’ wrong. “I have to go back Sev… now… something is not right.” Cat stated firmly as she closed her eyes and was immediately covered in a misty haze that settled over her body and dissolved into clothing.

“Catri, how can you be so certain there is something amiss? You have had an exhausting trip…” Sev began…..

“No!! Don’t do this” Sirius screamed as the Tremere slowly tilted the bottle causing the viscous fluid to sluggishly flow to the opening. Sirius felt as if time had stopped as he waited for a drop of the deadly poison to fall into Harry’s open wound.

“How can you do this to him, he’s only a child. His mother would be more than willing to trade her life for his, just as I am.” Sirius pleaded with the heartless Tremere as he struggled against the chains that held him to the wall. His eyes locked with Harry’s, he could see the terror and pain in his godson’s eyes. He had to do something to get Harry to safety, but what?

Gustavas’ only response was a condescending sneer and three words “You’re already dead.”……..

Raul, Hamish and the twins quickly jogged towards the dungeon, they slowed down when they heard footsteps approaching them from an adjoining corridor. Raul and Hamish motioned for the twins to stay against the wall and wait for them to see who it was. Hamish tensed his muscles as he poised to spring on the unknown intruders. Suddenly, Hamish’s nose began to twitch, “Oiy, Raul.. Hold up.” Hamish whispered as he sniffed the air. “I’d know that scent anywhere.” So saying, Hamish ran down the corridor and let out a loud whooping call. “It’s the boys Raul.” Hamish yelled back as he, Rick, Angus and Roel quickly dashed back to Raul and the twins.

“Good, you’re all safe” Raul sighed, it was no wonder Cash didn’t want to be primogen. Raul never thought it would be possible to worry about so many people at the same time, but at this very moment, he would be hard pressed to think of anyone he wasn’t worried about. “Hamish, fill in your brothers, and keep moving. We need to find Cash and the others.” Raul snapped “And I want one of you to buddy up with the twins, this is their first outing with us.” he added as he walked deeper into the dungeon.

Roel and Hamish grinned at each other, “I’ll take Fred” Roel said, “And I’ll take George” Hamish agreed as Rick and Angus just rolled their eyes “Great, keep all the jokers together” Rick sighed as he and Angus ran to catch up with Raul.

The group didn’t have long to wait before they found what they were looking for. Outside of one room were nearly a dozen death eaters, they seemed to be guarding something in the room behind them. “This is it.” Raul said, “Rick, Angus, your with me. Hamish and Roel you’re second wing, stop them from scattering and getting to any students. Fred, George, for right now, hang in the back and pick off anyone that gets past us. No heroics, just keep them from getting away. Understood? ”

The twins nodded in unison as they gasped their wands in their now sweaty hands. Hamish and Roel winked at them. “You’ll be fine, just do as we say and stay low. These guys are NOT looking for prisoners, if you catch my meaning.” Roel said as he slapped them lightly on the back reassuring them they would not be alone it this.

Raul, Angus, and Rick dashed headlong into the group of death eaters, taking several down on the first blow. The rest immediately scattered and began to hurl curses at the vampyres. It wasn’t long before they realized how badly outnumbered they were. Beside the dozen they had seen standing outside the room, there had apparently been almost as many roaming the halls, and they were now heading back to join the fray, and standing in their way, were Fred and George. . . .

“Oiy, Fred” George quipped “Mum would wash your mouth out with pepper soap if she heard you talk like that.” he teased as his brother dove to avoid a well aimed curse.

“Yeah, well if we live long enough for you to snitch, I’ll let her know what a potty mouth you are too.” Fred responded as he hurled a few of his own hexes at the death eaters. “You know, I really wish someone would have taught us the killing curse right now.”

“Good point” George admitted “but you have to admit, jelly legs, blindness, and stupefying are working out pretty well.”

“Not well enough” and ominous voice spoke from behind Fred….

The boys turned around to see a tall death eater looming over them, he pointed his wand at Fred and spoke “Avada Kadavara” just as Hamish pushed the man to the floor, tearing out his throat as Roel rushed to Fred and George’s side….

Roel quickly gathered Fred in his arms and urged George to follow him as Hamish finished up a few more death eaters. “George, stay with your brother” Roel ordered, “as soon as I can make an opening he’ll be taken to the hospital.”

George nodded numbly as he watched Roel gently place Fred on the floor in a sheltered corner. “Do you think he’ll make it there in time?” George asked as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “It didn’t hit him full on, that’s good, right?”

Roel looked around nervously before answering George’s question, they were being over whelmed by sheer numbers, but that was impossible. Five Gangrel and two student wizards should be able to handle the twenty to thirty death eaters that were left. “It’s better than if it would have hit him straight on” Roel agreed “but he’s bleeding pretty bad. What is that spell supposed to do anyway?” he asked as he took off his shirt and tore it into pieces, making a tourniquet to slow the bleeding.

Fred looked up and gave Roel a half - hearted smile. “Its called the killing curse” he said flatly, wincing as Roel lifted him to tie the tourniquet. “You better go help the others, I know you guys won’t let anything happen to us.”

Roel blinked back his tears as he stared at the twins, George was holding on to his brother, trying to encourage and calm the boy as all around them the battle increased in ferocity. Roel and Hamish stared at each other and made an unspoken pact, if things got bad, and there seemed to be no hope, one of them would sacrifice himself so that the other could take the twins to safety. And if worse came to worse, the embrace would be given, just as it was done for them.……