Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Freedom In Chains	By : TaintedSensibly Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 29613 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All original characters and plots are mine. No money was made with this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
!!! IMPORTANT !!!

Please Read my Author Notes!

A/N: This story is rated M. Please make sure you are mature enough to read! There will be dark content, as is normal for my stories. There will be slash romance and child abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual). There will be romance, angst, humor, adventure, and violence. This will not be cannon!

A/N2: This story is a rewrite, once titled Broken Shards of Peace. Actually, this is the third time I’ve tried to write this story. There will be some reused content from BSoP, but there will also be a high quantity of new material. I originally discontinued this when it inspired Broken Mind Fractured Soul. I’ve returned to it with the intention of exploring the psychological phenomenon that occurs within a dominate/submissive relationship.

!!! You have been warned so no flames please !!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All other characters and plot are my own. No monetary profit was made using this story!

…

Prologue: Lost and Found

July 31^st, 1991

Hogwarts Castle, Scotland

The clock struck midnight. Albus Dumbledore smiled behind his half-moon glasses. It was time. His bony hand rose and signed an acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The name on the envelope read Harry James Potter. It was time for the Boy-Who-Lived to come home. The ink set into the charmed paper and he waited patiently for an address to fill out under the name.

The cluttered office whirled and hummed quietly around him, marking the time as Albus stared at the parchment spread out on his desk. Minutes ticked by. The ink had been long dry, but still the address remained a smeared blur. The twinkle left his blue eyes to be replaced with a frown. The boy wasn’t dead or the ink would have disappeared, so why wasn’t it working? He lifted another letter and wrote Harry’s name before signing.

Still a smear of ink, nothing legible.

The old Headmaster closed his eyes and sent out a thought, and the castle relayed his request to the dungeons. Task done, he steadily cast several location spells, keying them to the name Harry Potter. All of them turned up nothing. Finally, he tried the life spell. It flared brightly. Relief made his bony shoulders dip. Yes, the boy was definitely alive. His brow scrunched. What could this possibly mean? Never before had an acceptance letter preformed this way.

Severus Snape strode into the room. “You needed me?”

“My boy, it seems something unusual is happening. I cannot locate Harry Potter, yet I am positive he is alive.”

Severus didn’t react to the news outwardly, but inwardly a cold feeling settled in his gut. All of his students thought him an angry, bitter man, and though there was some truth in that mask, he mostly was an empty shell. He acted the way he did because Albus had asked him to create that particular image. Without an audience, he reverted back to his true apathetic self. However, this was unexpected. Harry was missing?

“Go to the Dursley’s on Privet Drive in Surrey. House number Four. Find out what they know about Harry.”

Severus turned and left without further word.

Trusting in him, Albus leaned back and continued to sign letters to hopeful young students. If his eyes continued to stray to the unusual parchment with the Boy Hero’s name, well, no one could blame him.

xXx

August 1^st

“Ah, Severus. You’re back. What did you find out,” Albus asked as his spy strode into his office almost nine hours later. He met eyes no longer empty and stood, whole body tightening. Something had cracked the man’s defenses and breathed the life of anger into Severus’ heart. Worse, that anger was directed at him.

“Why,” Severus demanded, voice blistering with icy rage. “Why did you do it?”

Albus knew he had to be careful. If he said the wrong thing, the man’s control would shatter like glass and unleash a storm. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, Severus.”

“Why did you send the baby to the Dursleys,” Severus clarified, patiently stalking his prey.

“The Dursleys were the only family Harry had left.”

“The Dursleys were never his family,” Severus whispered dangerously as his wand flashed out.

“Don’t do anything you will regret, Severus.”

The dark-haired man sneered and cast a summoning charm. A Pensieve appeared on the old wizard’s desk. “I’ve organized it to give you a smooth, chronological experience of the child’s life in that house. Enjoy, Headmaster,” he snarled before spinning around and stalking from the room.

Albus looked at the Pensieve and sighed. Only one thing left to do. He bent forward and let his face touch the silvery liquid in the bowl. A quick flash of light and he was gone, falling into the memories of a sad and abused child.

xXx

Severus arrived at the Zabini mansion a mere fifteen minutes after he left the Headmaster’s office. A well-kept elf led him into a sitting room done in white and blue, reminding Severus of classical china.

“Professor Snape,” a low melodious voice spoke, “to what do we owe this honor?”

He turned to see Gloria Zabini. Her silken hair done up in many braids fell to her hips. Her skin was black as night, her eyes as dark as his own. Her figure was gorgeous, tall and lean, with feminine curves. She truly was glorious as her name implied. He bent over her soft hand, kissing the back. He noticed it was bare of a ring. She was in between husbands. Had the last one been number five or six? He couldn’t recall.

“Madam, I am afraid I am in a bit of a hurry. I must collect on the debt your family owes me.”

Her shoulders squared, her jaw setting. Three years ago one of her children, her daughter Delilah, had contracted one of the rare magical diseases that were incurable. As the best potion master in the world, she’d contacted him, pleading with him to try and do something for her child. Instead of money, he requested a boon, a life debt. She had agreed, and he managed to create a potion that while didn’t cure her completely at least let Delilah live a normal span of years.

“What do you request of me and mine?” she asked formally.

“I am going on a mission, one that holds the utmost importance to me. I will need assistance. I am uncertain how long the task will last, but once it is over, the debt will be cleared.”

“Will there be danger?”

“I do not yet know the dangers that will be involved, so I request a member of your house who is capable in self-defense.”

Gloria opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted.

“I will go, Mother. I am free and am capable of taking care of myself.”

Severus felt his shoulders relax.

Armand Zabini was almost Severus’ height, standing at an impressive six foot. His skin was a dark caramel color, lightened by his father undoubtedly, but his build was almost an exact replica of Gloria’s, lean and strong like a swimmer. He’d been sorted Slytherin, so Severus was well acquainted with the young man, and had graduated four years ago. He was calm, capable, and reliable. His composure, to Severus’ knowledge, was unshakable. He’d never seen the man so much as disquieted or excited. Many of the students found him strange and uncomfortable to be around, but Severus had always been calmed by the stillness Armand possessed.

“Amadeo…” Gloria murmured, obviously upset. She did not want to save one child only to risk another.

“I will be fine, Madre,” Armand reassured her. He kissed her cheek and turned to face Severus. “When shall we leave?”

“Now,” Severus answered easily.

“Very well.” He bowed low to his mother. “Tell the others goodbye for me. I will purchase whatever I need.”

“Come home to me safe,” Gloria demanded, eyes fierce and bright.

He nodded once and again turned to Severus. The Potion Master took his leave, aware of Armand following behind him. Once they were outside the wards surrounding the mansion, he took hold of the young man’s arm and Apparated them to Snape Manor. It was the only place he could be certain they could talk without being overheard.

Armand listened without interruption as Severus gave him a sketch of what had happened to Harry Potter.

“I need a small team I can trust. The preliminary spells used to locate the boy indicates he is overseas. I am uncertain what we will face, but others will also be looking,” Severus concluded. “The problem is, outside of this debt, I have no access to capable wizards who don’t owe their allegiance to either Albus or the Dark Lord. And we only have a few more hours before Albus is no longer occupied.”

“Then you need to approach those you know who will choose Harry Potter over the Headmaster or the Dark Lord,” Armand reasoned.

Severus grimaced. He’d been thinking the same. “Very well. Come with me.”

They Apparated from the manor to a rundown part of London. It was filthy, loud, and dangerous. Severus sneered at everyone they met. It wasn’t long before he found the bar he was looking for. A bell clanged instead of jangled as they pushed through the heavy door. The windows were so covered with soot and grime that it seemed you could hardly tell it was a cloudless, bright afternoon outside.

“What can I…” The bartender’s amber eyes widened. “Severus?”

“Lupin.” Severus sneered, very carefully not touching anything in the seedy establishment. “I need to talk to you.”

The werewolf stared for a moment longer before nodding. “Fine. We’ll talk in the back corner. Do you want a drink?”

“I don’t have a beazor on me at present,” Severus answered, scowling darkly.

Remus laughed, his worried expression softening. “All right. And you?”

“No, thank you,” Armand answered politely.

Remus came around the bar and led them to the corner mentioned. “What is it you need to say?”

“Harry Potter is missing. Or, shall I say, has been lost.”

The man froze, halfway into his seat. His eyes looked up at Severus in absolute shock. “What did you say?”

“I said, the boy is gone. The man in charge of his care abused him severely and then sold him to the Muggle black-market in order to cover a gambling debt when Harry was merely five years old,” Severus said in a clipped hard voice.

Remus fell into his chair, his breath coming in startled pants. “Albus said he was fine. Well-cared for.”

“Apparently the Headmaster was too busy to actually check up on the boy,” Severus answered shortly. “His machinations have gone too far this time. I am no longer Albus’ spy or servant. I’ve decided to find Harry, and I intend for neither Albus nor the Dark Lord to have control of the child.”

“Why?” Remus growled, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“No child should be treated the way Harry was. It… reminds me of the past.” Severus grimaced, but really, there could be no other reason he’d go after the boy except for the truth, and he wasn’t quite ready to part with that information yet. Who knew how Lupin would respond if he discovered the boy wasn’t actually Potter’s. “If you decide to join my team, I will not tolerate you acting as an informant for Albus. You can no longer serve him.”

Remus studied the men before him. If what Severus had discovered about Harry was enough to invoke pity, it must have been gruesome. It was a lot to take in, but really he only had one choice he could possibly make. “I’m in. I agree Albus shouldn’t have any control over Harry. He’s not family or his guardian. I want to help you find him.”

Severus already regretted coming here. Certainly Lupin would do whatever he could for Harry, but Severus wasn’t sure he could stand the man’s presence for however long this task would take. Certainly he’d have to pack the ingredients of the Wolfsbane potion. He wasn’t about to have the man turn into a slavering beast while anywhere near his vicinity.

“Do you recommend anyone else?” Armand spoke up.

Remus considered. “Albus asked me to recruit Nymphadora Tonks. She said she’d consider joining the Order, but this sounds more up her alley. Her talent at disguise could come in handy, especially if we are going to another country. She is very skilled in picking up local behavior and dialects.”

Severus almost snarled. Of course Lupin would recommend a useless Hufflepuff. Tonks had graduated just this year, and while she had surprisingly high scores in her classes, she was exceedingly annoying and ridiculously clumsy. On the other hand, Lupin’s points about her ability to blend in were absolutely correct as well. If Severus could endure the wolf, he could put up with the annoying chit of a girl.

“Fine. I will leave that up to you. Meet us at the Hog’s Head in six hours. We leave for America then.”

“America!”

“Yes,” Severus snarled. “So you’d better be quick!”

“And what will you be doing?” Remus demanded, hands tightening on the table edge.

A purely vindictive smile stretched across the Potion Master’s face. “I believe I need to make a trip to the Ministry.”

With that he turned and stalked out of the filthy pub. Armand gave a little bow and followed him. Remus shook his head. He had no idea what he’d just gotten himself into, but the thought of little Harry being abused and sold like some type of slave made him want to throw back his head and howl. He didn’t for a second think he’d made the wrong decision. In fact, he hoped he’d eventually get the chance to speak to the Headmaster about his decisions regarding James and Lily’s boy.

xXx

August 2^nd

Albus was thrown back into his chair, gasping for breath. Greif brought him low. How had this happened? It was inconceivable that such cruelty could exist in such normal people. Had Harry stayed in that house and somehow survived, his spirit would have been completely destroyed. Thank Merlin the boy had gotten out when he had. On the other hand, that meant the child could be anywhere. They had no clues and no way to find him.

The door opened and Severus walked in.

Albus eyed him warily, but he relaxed when he saw the normal expressionless face. “Severus,” he said tiredly, but he was cut off.

“I’ve acted on your behalf and given copies of this Pensieve to the Ministry of Magic. I’ve also told Fudge how tragic you feel this situation is and that you have taken action against Ms. Figg who never gave you any idea that the Boy-Who-Lived was suffering or even missing all these years. As well, I have told him of your desire to right this wrong and protect the child. Toward this goal, I gave the Minister your advice that a group of trusted and experienced wizards should be assigned to look for the child as their sole objective. Here is the list of names of those who have been assembled to be a part of this team. As you can see, I am the third name on the list. You will have to find another Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin for next year. I will be leaving in the morning.”

Albus was stunned, utterly unable to process everything that had happened. “Severus.”

“Oh, and the Dursleys are going on trial to be punished for their heinous crimes. Minister Fudge will be fire-calling you shortly to ask for aid in handling the Wizarding community. He agrees that this should be kept discreet for Harry Potter’s sake once he returns.”

“What are you thinking?” Albus asked in a whisper, eyes wide.

“I am thinking about retrieving and protecting Harry. Goodbye, Albus.”

Severus turned and left in a swirl of black robes. He smiled as he strode off the grounds of Hogwarts. He was no longer sacrificing himself for the good of the people Lily so loved. He would no longer be used as a pawn and spy. He wanted only one thing now and he refused to be denied this time. No one would stop him. Not anymore.

He arrived at the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade expecting to find his team, but instead of three waiting for him there was four. Severus eyed the elderly man suspiciously. He stood across from Armand at one of the tables. Lupin and the eighteen year old Tonks stood close together, on Armand’s side of the table, unconsciously choosing sides.

“Can I help you?” Severus asked in a soft, dangerous voice. His hand rested on his wand hilt.

Faded blue eyes regarded him calmly. “My name’s Linc. I’m volunteering to join your expedition.”

“And how is it you know of our mission?” Severus demanded. He stalked slowly closer.

“The Minister felt more comfortable with my inclusion, and I agreed.” Linc held his hands slightly away from his side. “I mean you no harm and swear to do my utmost to ensure this party’s success.”

“Your qualifications?” Armand asked reasonably as Severus stood there scowling.

“Exceptional duelist, seventy years experience in exoteric magic, and a charming personality,” Linc answered with a wry grin.

“Very well.” Severus snapped. They didn’t have time for this. He knew when he was beat, but he wouldn’t be taking his eyes off the unexpected addition to their party for a long while.

He pulled the international portkey the Minister had approved from his pocket. The long scroll had runes and spells embedded deeply within every pore. Spreading it out on the table, he gestured for the others to place their palms flat upon it. “Brace yourselves,” he warned just as magic slammed into them like a typhoon.

xXx

August 8^th

Salem, Massachusetts

It took nearly a full week for them to recover from traveling halfway across the planet. Fortunately, the destination had been a rather nice hotel room. Once they were back on their feet, no longer feeling like they were vibrating right out of their skeleton, Severus locked himself in the bathroom. He pulled out his bottomless pouch and set up a rudimentary potions lab. Using his own blood and the eyes of nearly a dozen different creatures, over half of which were magical, he had what he needed.

Severus entered the room to see Tonks sitting cross-legged on a bed, grinning at Linc. The old man was leaning against the wall near the balcony door. Remus was sitting in a chair by the television box blushing hotly and Armand sat at the foot of another bed looking completely serene.

Fighting a sneer from his face, Severus lifted the potion he’d just created, getting the group’s attention. “This potion should indicate the direction in which Harry Potter resides. Restrain your magic as much as possible from tainting the room.”

Quickly the energy in the room began to stagnate as the others obeyed, pulling their magic in close to their core and holding it there. Severus took a deep breath. He’d created this potion in its entirety. In theory it would work, but he only had bare guesses on exactly how it would work. Failure wasn’t an option. Harry’s trail was six years cold. There literally was no other way to find him, seeing how there was something around Harry that rebuffed every location spell in existence.

Severus locked eyes with Armand as he brought the potion to his lips. He staggered, wrapping his arms around his torso, a gasp escaping his tight throat. Lupin rose to his feet, concern spelled blatantly across his features.

“Don’t touch me,” Severus rasped, spitting mad. Then he was lost to the rather incredible pain.

His back arched as he rose to the toes of his feet. It felt like his blood was boiling, although he knew that it was not. That knowledge helped some, enough to allow him to keep the screams locked in his throat. Then his magic felt pulled out of him. It was not under his control. It felt like rape. He dropped to his knees with an anguished cry, back still bowed back. His magic was pulled and yanked about from the deepest most intimate part of his soul, and he was helpless, sweat-drenched and sobbing harshly.

A vision took hold of his mind with sharp teeth. It looked like a dormitory. Rows of beds along both walls. A window at one end, a door at another. A closet and two dressers, the drawers not all the way closed, clothes in all colors peeking out. Zoom out. A massive two story house, a wide front porch. Paint chipping in places, wood sagging in others, but otherwise in fairly good repair. Sprawling athletic fields to the back, cast-iron gate to the front and a narrow busy street. Words branded on his mind: Atlanta, Georgia.

Severus collapsed, curled in a fetal position on his side. Hands were on him but he had no strength to fight them off. Something cool bathed his face. His tears and sweat were washed away. Feeling fragile and horribly exposed, Severus tumbled into blackness.

xXx

New Hangleton, UK

A huge boa constrictor slithered across the dusty floor of the rundown manor. She approached the man standing in the center of the room, looming over the body of a female human. As instructed, Nagini curled up at the feet of the man her master had possessed. He had a bag clutched in one hands, brought to him by two her master had marked.

The two had just finished with the human female, their mating and her cries silenced as they finally ended her life. Master stood over the girl, the agony of her death and violation clutched within his free hand. Black dark magic pulsed thickly through the air as Master opened the pouch with magic and revealed a red, red stone.

Using his death-filled hand, he lifted the stone to his mouth. Nagini slithered around so she could watch as her master opened his mouth like a snake and swallowed it. She didn’t expect the pain that followed. Nagini hissed a scream of pure agony as her soul and life was shredded, devoured.

With a disgustingly wet, crunching sound, the massive snake exploded outward, soon followed by her master’s possessed body. The flesh and blood and bone swirled in a vortex filling the room. Slowly, gruesomely, the cloud began to shrink, to take form, until the body of a man appeared, stick thin with skin splattered liberally with blood. Voldemort stretched his new body and laughed, high and inhuman.

That fool Dumbledore had been so distracted lately that he hadn’t been able to protect the Philosopher’s Stone. Last week, Avery and Malfoy had managed to steal it right from Gringotts Bank. With the use of the powerful object, the sacrifice of a virgin’s maiden head followed by her life, and by using a Horcrux, Lord Voldemort had been reborn.

Rabid lust sizzled through his soul. The boy… the wretched, loathsome Potter boy! He would strip the boy of his flesh, of his sanity! Then he’d feast on his very life essence! He’d find him and tear him into tiny gory pieces! How dare the little half-blood challenge him!

I’ll find you, Harry Potter! And I’ll do worse than kill you… So much worse... I’ll destroy everything that you are!

Avery whimpered pathetically with fear while Malfoy remained submissively on his knees, still and silent. Voldemort drank in the delicious scene before yanking Malfoy’s arm up and calling upon his Death Eaters. Witches and wizards scattered across the country screamed as the Dark Mark on their skin began to burn as if from the fires of Hell. He had punishments to give out to his oh so loyal followers, and then he’d hunt down his prey.

xXx

August 15^th

Atlanta, Georgia

With dead eyes, Severus surveyed the charred ruins of the southern orphanage where Harry Potter had resided.

Between the Dark Mark and the locator potion, it had taken three days for Severus to recover. Between Linc, who had proven an incredible ward crafter, and Armand’s skill with Healing, Severus had become functional. It had taken an additional two days to fly by broomstick to Georgia, and then another day had been required to find the building within the large city.

A week, a mere seven days, and they had lost the race. Ash and destruction… the broken human bodies of women and children… the taste of dark magic… The enemy had gotten here first.

Severus gripped his hair, face contorted in a grief-stricken snarl. How had Voldemort done it? How had he located the boy so fast? Dumbledore had tried every locator spell and charm and failed. In turn, Severus had been forced to resort to an experimental potion he had just completed. No one else knew of its existence. Nor would they have been able to supply the key ingredient: Severus’ own blood. So how had it been done?

“Spell residue is approximately six hours old,” Linc said, his wand swirling in front of him. “Mostly Killing Curses, Fire Charms, and Blasting Hexes.”

Severus shot his eyes to old man. Their small team of five was vastly outnumbered by the Death Eaters. If they were going to win, they would need every trick they could muster. Without Linc, he’d be at the mercy of his Dark Mark. The man had already proven to be invaluable. Too bad it no longer mattered. Harry was either taken or dead.

“Several people were murdered by dark magic. Most were children,” Remus added sadly, reading the results of his diagnostic spell.

“There is no one left alive.” Armand lowered his wand, eyes moving slowly across the horizon, searching for threats.

“What do we do, Severus? What if the Death Eaters took him?” Distracted and frantic, Tonks didn’t watch where she placed her feet and tripped over loose bricks. Remus quickly snagged her arm, preventing her from falling head first.

Severus had to know for sure. Even though it terrified him, he opened his pouch and grabbed the vile potion of his own making. He flicked his hand in his team’s direction to get them to fall silent. “Give me room.”

They didn’t need to ask what he was doing.

Burning pain followed by a deep sense of violation, and Severus collapsed to his knees, a thin scream rising from his throat. A bare room filled only with a cot and nightstand. No windows, one door. Zoom out. A small church. Painted white with a large wooden cross erected at the peak of the roof. A sign: Saint Margaret Mary’s. Then acidic words, a place, but unlike last time the city name was blurred, smeared out. All he could clearly read was the state: Tennessee.

Severus came to with his head in Armand’s lap. Gasping, barely holding onto consciousness, he managed to communicate what he had seen. “Harry wasn’t killed. He’s alive. Tennessee. St. Margaret Mary’s.”

Tonks let out a sigh of relief, Remus closed his eyes, whole body singing in relief, and Linc began to gather up their brooms. Severus’ vision swam. He looked up at Armand. The young man was watching him, concern gentling his features. Severus fell into unconsciousness feeling strangely safe.

xXx

September 5^th

Memphis, Tennessee

The sweltering night was blessedly free of pedestrian traffic, so Severus needn’t be concerned with being observed. He dove around the corner, falling into a roll. Bricks exploded in a fine spray of dust above his head. The grit stung his eyes. He aimed for the three Death Eaters with a sharp, “Pulvium!”

A shriek of agony answered him. One of the men went down, but unfortunately it was only his leg that disintegrated into a pulpy mess. He was still alive, still a threat. A bone breaking curse just barely missed Severus’ skull, and his collar bone gave an audible crack. He bit back a scream, vision going white for a dangerous second.

Armand slid in front of the wounded man. Rapid, vicious curses flew from his oak-wood wand as he attacked the Death Eaters. From his knees, Severus slashed his wand forward, and the last enemy fell, strangling. Almost as one, they Disapparated. Not a word had been spoken outside of curses. Quick fights like this had become common place over the last three weeks.

“Any killed?” Severus rasped.

“One,” Armand answered. He flipped his long braid over his shoulder and offered his arm.

“Harry must be close.” Severus carefully stood, holding his body as rigidly as possible. His vision still swam worryingly. “Second group we’ve run into today.”

“We’ll find him,” Armand returned, steadily guiding him back toward the seedy motel of the night.

“We would have found them long ago if location spells weren’t neutralized around him. He has even managed to blur my potion! We’re lucky we can narrow it down to the state!” Severus was practically babbling, but it distracted him from the pain and he trusted Armand not to hold his moment of weakness against him.

“The Death Eaters would be pleased as well,” Armand pointed out. His eyes squinted just slightly with amusement.

Severus allowed Armand to practically carry him toward safety. At least they knew they were finally in the right city. They’d been systematically hitting every Catholic Church in Tennessee. Meanwhile Linc worked diligently on fine-tuning a locator spell keyed to Harry and Severus did his best trying to pick up clues using the potion every third night. Repeated use of the potion and the numbed but not silent Dark Mark had weakened Severus, which explained his current injury. Usually he performed so much better in a fight. But what could he do? He had to find Harry. Severus could only pray they would find the child before the Death Eaters.

xXx

September 7^th

Remus’ steps echoed off the wet pavement. The smell of piss and filth caused by too many humans living close together almost overpowered every other sense. Almost. The few passing walkers likely thought he was drunk as he hugged the wall, nose pressed right up against the moist concrete next to the front door of the rundown boarding house. Eyes almost fully gold due to the oncoming full moon, Remus inhaled, filtering out the refuge. A low growl resonated from his chest.

“I found him,” he rumbled into the bracelet on his wrist. With deft fingers he plucked a charm from the gold band.

“Hold your position,” Severus’ voice drifted faintly to his ears.

Remus ignored the order and ran inside, knowing the others would arrive in moments. He followed the illusive scent reminiscent of Lily and James with something else that must be Harry’s unique smell. The werewolf loped up the stairs, coming out onto the third floor hallway. His heart pounded. They’d never been so close.

The scent led him to a door much sturdier than the others. He raised his hand to knock just as an explosion downstairs vibrated through the building. His ears picked up a gasp and several thumps from the room, and he flung his body at the door. Surprisingly, instead of crumbling easily under his weight, it bounced him off.

“What are you doing?” – a shrill female voice.

“We have to go!” – male, young, Harry. “I don’t know how, but they’ve found us!”

Remus threw all his strength against the barrier. This time it gave with a loud crash. He had just enough time to see slender limbs and a dark head of hair slip out the window. Remus ran across the room, heart beating at triple pace in fear. Outside wasn’t safe; the Death Eaters were here! Metal clanged as the two clambered down the fire escape.

The older man flung himself after them. “Wait! Stop! Please!”

Glass exploded outward as a masked figure leapt out a window. He landed on the stairs between Harry and Remus. With a vicious snarl, the werewolf attacked. He ducked under a vicious spell and slammed into a bony chest. Remus shoved with all his inhuman strength, and the Death Eater fell with a scream.

“Go! Run!” Harry’s voice screamed.

Remus leaned over and saw two children running down an alley side-by-side. A Death Eater stood at the opposite end. The enemy’s wand snapped forward with a yelled, “Avada Kadavra!”

Remus threw himself over the banister with a roar, desperate to put himself between that deadly light and Harry. He was too late. He landed hard, a crack sounded as something broke, and he rolled. Slamming hard up against the side of the alley, he lay still, fighting to stay conscious.

“No!”

The scream was full of pain and denial, the anguish stripping it of any identifiers. Terrified, Remus lifted his head, hoping Harry wasn’t dead. Not Harry, please not Harry!

Silhouetted by the light from a street lamp, someone stood over another lying too still on the ground. Only the short messy hair revealed the one standing, alive, was Harry. Remus let out a breath of relief. As the boy turned his head, the glimmer of tears could be seen streaking his cheeks. The Death Eater charged up the alley toward him, flinging more spells, but the boy disappeared around the side of the building in an instant.

“Avada Kadavra,” Remus snarled.

The Death Eater turned with a gasp of shock only to fall dead directly after. Two more masked men ran across the mouth of the alley, chasing after the fleeing teen. Remus flung himself in pursuit. He ripped another charm off the bracelet, yelling, “He’s running east! Two are on his back!”

The sharp pain in his leg, stabbing him with every step, fueled his need. He had to catch the boy, protect him, quick. He flung spells after the two enemies, but Harry was running between buildings, zigzagging, and the Death Eaters copied him. It made it impossible to aim.

Armand flew out of a side alley, keeping pace with Remus. They ran past Linc who stood his ground, creating a blockade with his body and magic to prevent more Death Eaters from joining the chase. Armand spun gracefully, like a dancer, shouting a shield charm over Remus’ back just in time. Remus bolted past him, faster, faster…

Severus swooped down on the remaining two minions that were gaining on the boy, and the way was clear! There he was, Harry, and Remus was only fifty yards short, twenty-five… A teen came sprinting out of a side alley and tackled Harry to the ground. Remus cried out, reaching… ten yards…

An invisible explosion of power flung Remus back on his arse. Fog billowed down the street, obscuring his vision and sense of smell. Harry was gone. Remus flung his head back and howled. In answer, sharp cracks of Apparation rang out as the Death Eaters retreated, knowing their target had slipped away yet again.

Remus punched the ground twice in fury.

Severus unwisely ignored these warning signs. “Sectumsempra!”

Remus rolled, growling low in his throat, the dangerous spell only just missing him.

Armand grabbed Severus’ arm while Tonks ran to Remus’ side, murmuring softly into his ear. Both men quivered, on the verge of attacking despite those in their way.

“This ain’t working,” Linc spat with a glare of his own. “Them Death Eaters are breathing down our necks. How do you expect to get close to the kid when it’s going to turn into a fight every time?”

Severus cast a poisonous look the werewolf’s way. “If Lupin had waited for us to get into position, the Death Eaters wouldn’t have gotten so close!”

“I almost had him,” Remus countered, voice low and gravelly. “If it weren’t for the other one…”

“Who was that kid? Did you feel that burst of magic?” Tonks pounced on the new subject, hoping to defuse the situation. She nervously brushed her limp brown hair from her face, eyeing the two men.

“Yes, where did he come from?” Severus asked with a vicious sneer. “You were supposed to prevent interference from that direction. Are you now going to be as useless as the mutt?”

High strung due to the nearly full moon and still agitated from the close call, Remus leapt at Severus with a purely animalistic snarl. Severus snapped his wand up and out, but suddenly Armand was between them. The young man pressed Remus back with a hand on his chest while his other hand slapped Severus’ wand down.

“Cool it you two!” Linc barked. A snap of his magic had Severus’ and Remus’ feet pinned to the ground and unable to speak. Scowling fiercely, Linc tapped his fist against his thigh. A sure sign he was close to losing his temper. “We need a way to locate the boy from a distance. We have to narrow it down to more than which state the boy is in. If we manage that, a few of us can play decoy while we send in someone to reason with the kid before he rabbits.”

“I’ll work on it,” Severus bit out, cool and precise.

Linc nodded and released him.

xXx

Little did they know that it would take years

to corner Harry Potter, and that the shape of

the Wizarding world would become altered

beyond recognition during that time.

Chapter end.

A/N: Hope this is an interesting story! Please review and let me know if you feel it is worth pursuing!

A/N2: Need a BETA! Please email me at sensiblytainted21 at yahoo dot com if you’d like to help with this story. I will reply with some notes and the next chapter. Thank you!!!
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