Chapter 15

He could stagger only a few more steps away from the house. Too close, part of his mind still screamed, but mostly, it simply screamed 'Stop!'. And so he did, collapsing into the dirt facedown, though he at least dragged himself off the little path. They'd be hunting... he lost consciousness before he could finish the thought.

Lyndell followed Kingsley closely. They were coming up on what most certainly was a headquarters for death eaters. Even though the pair was still a ways away, they couldn't risk being detected. Lyndell reached out and poked Kingsley's shoulder every so often to make sure he was still in front of her. She froze, however, when she reached out and there was nothing but air, and a muffled noise could be heard from the ground. "Kingsley?" she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Where are you?"

"To the left... you might... not want to come look at this..."

"What difference would it make? I can barely see anyways."

"You don't much want to see this."

"What is it?"

"We... we found Remus."

"Remus?" She got down onto the ground and crawled over to where she could make out Kingsley's form on the ground, and there was in fact, another body next to him. "Is...is he okay?"

"He's alive... it's about all I can say for him right now."

"We need to get him back..."

"I know." Kingsley levitated Remus' form carefully. "Let's go."

She followed him, although stayed closer to Remus.

"We'll get him to the school..."

"Have Madame Pomfrey check him over..."

"Yes."

Lyndell touched Remus's shoulder and pulled her hand back. "He's bleeding."

"I know... his face is half covered in blood... it doesn't look good for him, Lyndell."

Lyndell did her best to wipe some of the blood from his face and sighed. "Can we apparate?"

"We'll have to."

"We need to do it now, then."

Kingsley nodded and placed a hand on Remus' foot before apparating.

Lyndell gently levitated Remus into the nearest bed as Kingsley went to get Madam Pomfrey.

Remus woke up suddenly. "Lyndell..."

"Remus, I'm right here." She sat close to him.

"Lyndell... I bit someone," he told her hoarsely.

"What? Remus, lie still, you're very hurt."

"I bit someone..."

Lyndell used the sleeve of her robe to wipe away some of the blood on his face. "Are you sure?"

He nodded weakly. "I know I did... but I don't know... I don't know who it was..."

Lyndell frowned slightly. "We'll...we'll worry about it later...we need to get you healed first..."

"No, Lyndell, I..."

"Remus...let us heal you first...please."

"But I..."

"Shhh."

He sighed heavily.

Madam Pomfrey performed several healing charms and made Remus drink a potion.

He rested back against the pillows.

Lyndell kissed his cheek as gently as she could manage.

"Lyndell, I didn't mean to..."

"I know, Remus...you wouldn't..."

"But I did..."

She sighed. "We'll deal with it when you're feeling better..."

"No... I have to... I have to do it now, right away..."

"Do what?"

"Find them."

Lyndell looked to Kingsley. "Could you...?"

"I'll do what I can." Kingsley left the room.

"We're looking." She told Remus.

He coughed.

"Do you want some water?"

He nodded. "Please."

She held the glass for him.

Remus gulped at the water. "Thank you."

Lyndell nodded.

He sighed again.

She cleaned away more of the blood.

Remus reached out and gently squeezed her free hand.

She smiled a bit. "I didn't even realize you were missing...until Dumbledore sent you a note...I thought you'd gone to see him..."

"I'm sorry..."

She shook her head. "Don't be..."

"Lyndell, I... I can't forgive myself for..."

"Remus...it was an accident..."

"But... I know what they're fated to, Lyndell..."

"But you didn't mean...you didn't mean to bite them..."

"But I did."

"I know."

Kingsley reentered the room.

Lyndell looked up.

"It... wasn't too hard to find out."

"Who was it?"

"Draco Malfoy."

Lyndell squeezed Remus's hand. "Where is he?"

"Still at his house..."

"Being treated?"

"They're trying. Not much to do for him, obviously."

Lyndell sighed.

Remus had closed his eyes.

She squeezed his hand.

Kingsley decided to leave the two alone and excused himself.

"Sixteen. Sixteen years old and the rest of his life..."

She nodded.

"And I did that..."

Lyndell squeezed his hand, not quite sure what to say.

He lapsed into silence.

"What...." She hesitated. "What will happen now?"

"I don't know. I'd hoped I'd never find out."

"Well... what'll happen to the boy?"

"That will depend on his parents, by and large... if they try to get rid of him I'll do all I can to help him, but I'm hardly welcome company at the Malfoy home."

"Somehow I don't believe Lucius Malfoy will be very accepting to the fact."

"Neither do I."

"How are you feeling?"

"Alright, I guess..."

"Physically."

She nodded. "You should rest..."

"I suppose so."

"I'll stay, if you want me to."

"Please do."

Lyndell squeezed his hand again.

He leaned back against the pillows.

Lyndell leaned down and kissed his cheek.

He dropped off into troubled sleep.

Lyndell ran her thumb over the back of his hand, watching him.

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