Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.


Chapter 20 Calling Your Bluff

Albus Dumbledore gave an angry kick to the side of the unconscious house-elf. “Serves you right for going against me,” Albus sneered before stepping over the prone figure. Actually he had been plotting ever since his professors and that brat had turned on him, so the crazed wizard quickly set about gathering his hidden treasures. Fortunately, the traitorous Phoenix had not shown his captors all of his secret caches. From the first nook he withdrew a spare wand while an additional stash of dark potions were to be found in the second. Finally, a third hiding space revealed a magic mirror with which he could contact other members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Indulging in a rare smirk, the former Headmaster began putting his plan of revenge into place. Taking a moment to compose his features, the old wizard then used the mirror to contact his unwitting accomplice.

“Albus, what a surprise,” the man in the mirror said.

“My dear boy,” Albus began. “How delightful to speak to you again. I wonder if you might indulge an old man and come visit with me?”

Smiling, the other man instantly agreed. Albus had always been there for him and he in turn would do anything for the Leader of the Light.

Albus waved his wand and activated the Floo so his visitor could come over. Dobby’s unconscious form was quickly stashed in a cupboard and a binding charm ensured that the wayward creature would not be interfering in his affairs. Sitting back in his favorite chair behind his desk, the old wizard eagerly awaited his unsuspecting guest.

A few minutes later and Remus Lupin gracefully stepped out of the Floo. Smiling, the werewolf greeted the venerable man, “Albus, what may I do for you?”

Albus Dumbledore affected his most beneficent demeanor. Fortunately, the shabbily dressed werewolf had always been so easy to lead. After offering the usual tea and lemon biscuits, the wily old man began weaving his web. Sighing dramatically, the old wizard addressed the former professor, “Remus, I am so glad that you were able to respond so quickly to my summons. I am afraid that I have some rather disturbing news for you. I can only ask that you will try to restrain yourself after I explain the situation to you.” Albus smugly watched as his words achieved the desired effect upon the last marauder.

Growling his frustration, Remus turned to the man he trusted with his life. “What is it, Albus?”

Sighing heavily, Albus Dumbledore regarded the greying man. “Remus, I am afraid that I have rather bad news for you. I am sorry, but there is no other way to say this. I was hoodwinked. Severus Snape has managed to gain control over Harry and has turned him against us. I wish there were a better way to tell you this, but Severus is working against us and has found a way to control Harry. I wish there was something I could say to you…” With another greatly exaggerated sigh, the old man conveyed his helplessness to the werewolf.

Remus felt his hackles rise immediately upon hearing that a member of his pack was in danger. Beyond the fact that his Harry was being threatened by Severus Snape, the werewolf heard little else. His animal instincts automatically kicked into place and immediately his senses were focused solely on rescuing the last member of his pack. Growling, Remus quickly stood and headed towards the door.

Albus too stood and he quietly admonished his companion to be careful. Watching the werewolf leave the room, the old wizard sat back down and grinned. Oh yes, the bastard and the brat would pay for crossing him.

After waiting a few minutes, Albus put the next part of his plan into motion. Albus fire-called Kingsley Shacklebolt and briefly explained to the bald Auror that he greatly feared for the safety of one of his staff and a student. His trademark twinkle noticeably absent, the former Headmaster asked that the Order member be prepared to put down an enraged werewolf.

Kingsley dutifully promised to gather the necessary equipment before closing off his end of the Floo network. Popping a lemon drop into his mouth, Albus relaxed. Even better, the werewolf would be eliminated after doing Albus’ dirty work. A truly wicked smile crossed the old wizard’s face and if anyone had been present to see it, they would have been terrified.


The agitated werewolf followed his senses down to the bowels of the castle. He had always doubted whether Severus Snape was truly to be trusted and now he had his answer. If the bastard had harmed even one hair on his cub’s head there would be nothing left of the man in the morning.


Hogwarts slowly came down from her pleasure-induced haze. It had been entirely too long since true soul mates had bonded in her presence. But steadily, the feeling that something was terribly wrong within her halls crept into her consciousness. Reaching out through the ages old pathways the castle determined that the treacherous old wizard had somehow escaped his restraints and that another dangerous creature was loose in the castle halls.

Concentrating her will towards the new Headmaster, Hogwarts alerted the young man that danger was quickly approaching. Satisfied that the message had been received and understood, the castle then set about the difficult task of re-subduing the wayward wizard who had betrayed them all.


Harry raised his head from where it had been comfortably resting on Severus’ chest. Tensing, the young wizard quickly pulled up and searched for his clothing.

Severus was awakened from a rather agreeable dream when the warm weight on his chest was removed. Grumbling his dissent, he was brought to an abrupt awareness at the urgency of his mate’s actions.

“Harry?” he inquired.

In the process of pulling his jumper over his head, Harry turned back to the bed and his sleepy lover. “Hogwarts is warning me of danger. I think it’s Remus,” the young man explained.

Years of self-preservation served the older well as he quickly rose and dressed to stand next to his mate. It turned out to be not a minute too soon as the door to his chambers was blasted apart by an enraged werewolf. Severus stiffened even as he brought his wand up to face the intruder. This scenario brought back a recurring nightmare from which the Potions master had never truly recovered.

Harry stood calmly, watching as Remus in his righteous anger easily broke through the elaborate spells protecting their chambers. Knowing that he had the full power of Hogwarts behind him, the young wizard waited until his surrogate Godfather had spotted him. Stepping forward, Harry raised his hand and with a silent spell, bound and froze the werewolf to the spot.

“Remus,” he quietly but firmly spoke, “there is no danger here. You must force your creature back into submission. Take back control. I am in no danger. Severus is my soul mate.”

Growling deep within his chest, the werewolf warily observed the pair confronting him. Whereas one was radiating serenity and confidence, the other reeked of fear and distrust. Frustration and confusion warred for supremacy in the would-be rescuer’s mind. Why did this not agree with the Headmaster’s words? What did Harry mean? What was he missing?

The doubt and uncertainty served to do what words and reason could not. Remus’ mind slowly began to clear as his higher mental facilities took over from the creature that was a part of him.


Albus blithely popped another acid-laced lemon drop into his mouth as he turned his mind to thoughts of revenge against his Deputy-Headmistress. Perhaps he could see just how many ways there were to skin a cat. Laughing to himself, he missed the subtle shift of magic as Hogwarts steadily tightened her web around the tower prison. Only when the maniacal wizard tried to rise out of his chair did the old man realize anything was amiss. Struggling in vain, the crazed man cursed the castle, the gods, Snape and anyone else who had ever dared to oppose him. Rage flushed his face when Albus finally understood that he had effectively been trapped again.


Closing his eyes in a bid to make sense of his cub’s words, Remus took a deep breath before quietly inquiring, “Harry?”

“Remus,” Harry answered easily. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

Sniffing the air, Remus was surprised to note that the scents of the two men before him were mingled, almost as if they were truly one individual. Tilting his head to the side, he silently communicated his need for answers.

Feeling Hogwarts relax in his mind, Harry smiled, “Well, Remy, it’s like this…”