Fire and Water

Chapter Forty Six



That evening, Severus sat next to Lucius Malfoy at the large, ornate dining room table. His glowering demeanour belying the nerves that fluttered in his gut.

“I hardly think that is necessary, Bellatrix,’ he said, disdainfully. ‘Wouldn’t it defeat the purpose of having taken him in the first place?”



His instinct had been correct. Yaxley had bought news of the impending Auror raid and Lord Voldemort’s’ most trusted servants were heatedly debating the benefits of keeping Lupin alive.



“He has not given Potter up,’ screeched Bellatrix, her eyes glowing at the thought of a fresh kill. “He has been here weeks and not one piece of useful information has escaped him. He will slow us down; I say kill him now.”

Severus stood. “And I say that, although we have broken his body, it is Lupin’s mind that we need to shatter. I am close. I believe I will need only a day or two more and we will have all the information we need.”

Lucius stood up as well. “This will all be moot if we do not leave here in the next few minutes. The Auror’s are on their way. I do not care what you do with the half breed, but if he can still be of use…..” He shrugged and turned away from the table to ensure his belongings had been packed and his wife and son were ready to depart.



Severus looked at Bella and saw the anger in her face. She was livid at Severus and Lucius.

“Fine. But if he gives you nothing useful in the next 48 hours, he is mine.” She grimaced nastily and Severus shuddered at the thought of the fate awaiting Lupin if he did not escape tonight.

“Perhaps it will be that very thought that loosens Lupin’s tongue, Bellatrix’ he said, not bothering to hide his disgust. “I’ll share the good news with him.”



As he walked down to the cellar, Severus breathed a small sigh of relief. He wasn’t going to have to use the Imperious curse on Lupin. Despite the man giving him his word, he knew that Lupin would have struggled against the influence of the spell once he realised he would be giving Krystal away.



He tapped his wand on the heavy wooden door, hearing the lock click. Lupin was shackled to the opposite wall, his legs shaking badly as he leaned heavily against the stone wall. Severus frowned. The man looked weaker than he had this morning: the shackles the only thing holding him upright.



A quick look up the stairs told Severus that they were alone, and he quickly moved to the other man.

“What happened to you?” he asked as Lupin swayed.

“Bellatrix paid me a visit,’ he mumbled, his eyes closing as his voice reverberated in his head.

‘Damn that woman,’ thought Snape, annoyed at Bellatrix. Lupin was barely conscious. He pointed his wand at him and muttered, “Enervate.” The spell roused the other man a little, and Severus tried it again.

The werewolf was now more aware and pushed off the wall to stand on his own. He looked at Snape as if he hadn’t realised he was there.



“Is it time?” he asked, their earlier conversation coming back to him.

Snape nodded, saying, “I don’t think I’ll need to curse you. But be ready for apparition. The second we step outside the gate, they will attack.”

Lupin nodded and asked, ‘Krystal? Severus…’

‘She is determined to fight for you,’ he answered, seeing the worry that settled in Lupin’s eyes with his words. ‘I tried, but she is an uncommonly stubborn woman.’

Remus tried to smile. ‘Yes, she is,’ he agreed softly.



“I need to bind your arms,’ said Snape, tapping the iron shackles with his wand, grabbing Lupin by the arm as the werewolf’s legs threatened to crumple. Lupin shook him off, standing unsteadily as he held out his hands. Severus waved his wand and Lupin felt tight ropes dig into his flesh, pinning his arms against his sides. Severus took his arm and tried to guide him out of the room, but Remus stopped him.



He looked at the Death Eater and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t try harder to stop them. James and Sirius..,’ he said, seeing the frown on Snape’s face.

“I’m sorry I helped them. I should have listened to Krystal: you are a more honourable man that I ever could have believed.”

Lupin was sincere, and Severus could see it had hurt the man to take his side over his friends, even now that they were gone.

“Let’s save the recriminations until we’re out of here, Lupin,’ he said, pulling the man out of the room and up the stairs.



Yaxley was waiting in the foyer of the eerily quiet mansion, with Yates and Donner. “About time!’ he snarled as he saw Severus dragging Lupin. “We’re the last to leave. They’ll be here any minute. Come on!”

He pushed open the front doors and the four Death Eaters strode quickly, wands out, down to the steel gate that guarded the manor; Lupin half walking, half dragged between Snape and Yates with Donner bringing up the rear. Yaxley paused only for a moment before walking straight through the gates as if they weren’t even there. Once on the other side, he tapped the lock with his wand, watching the gate creak and groan as it opened slowly.



The remaining three men walked through the gates, looking warily around. Severus saw a white spark in the air in front of them, and surreptitiously angled his wand towards the ground, silently casting a Stinging Hex. Yates suddenly bent down and clutched at his ankle, letting go of Lupin‘s arm

“Something bit me!’ he exclaimed loudly. Donner stepped forward to help as several cracks broke the silence and flashes of bright white light penetrated the dark.



Yaxley yelled and sent jets of red light at the figures that appeared in front of them, his spells bouncing off the shield charms that were quickly cast in front of the Order members. Severus knocked Lupin to the ground as streams of light were shot at the Death Eaters, who raised their wands to fight back. Donner turned to Lupin who was laying on the gravel and made a move to grab him, only to see the werewolf disappear before his eyes.



Krystal, seeing Remus disappear under Harry’s Invisibility Cloak with Charlie Weasley, breathed a sigh of relief. She and Bill had been joined by Tonks and Kingsley, both of the Auror’s jobless after their set up at the Ministry, and on the run. Together, they duelled the Death Eaters, the fight even until Donner got a hex through Tonks’ defence.



She let out a shrill cry and hit the ground hard. Krystal heard the young woman screaming in pain. She felt anger rise in her chest and, pointing her wand, she sent a Stunner at Donner, who wasn’t quick enough to deflect it, flying backwards and hitting the ground hard. She summoned all her strength and stepped in front of the others, dropping the wand she‘d been using so as not to draw attention to herself.



“Get Tonks and go,’ she screamed, spreading her arms wide and casting an enormous shield spell that would cover them all for a few seconds. “NOW! HURRY!”

She saw Bill and Kingsley grab the young woman.

Bill yelled at her, “Come on, Krys!“ as he spun on the spot and disapparated, leaving her alone with the Death Eaters.



They shot hex after hex at her, beating her shield down until it began to fade. Krystal had been waiting for this. Before her shield disappeared, she shot a quick Stunner at Severus, who, as planned, did not attempt to block the spell. He went down hard, and did not move.



Unaware of who she was, and what she was capable of, the Death Eaters looked around for the second person who must have cast the Stunner spell and bought down Snape. They weren’t aware that Krystal had done it, while still holding her shield. Seeing their small moment of distraction, Krystal quickly cast another shield with one hand and sent a killing curse at Yates with the other, watching as the stream of green light hit him in the shoulder.



Yaxley reciprocated, screaming “Avada Kedavra” as he pointed his wand at her. Krystal threw herself to the ground, rolled onto her back and, lifting her hands, shouted “Bombardium” at the Death Eater. His feet left the ground with the force of the spell, and he seemed to float there for a moment, before his body exploded, leaving nothing but gore in it’s place.



Krystal, flecked in Yaxley’s blood, lay panting on the ground for a second, before scrambling to her feet to check Severus. His heart rate was strong and breathing good, although he had opened up his scalp on the gravel under him. She checked his injury; it was superficial.

“Thank you, my friend,’ she whispered quickly, before standing and checking the others.



Yaxley was obviously dead: her feet slipped in the proof as she made her way over to Donner and Yates, feeling her stomach turn over in disgust. She was sickened both with what remained of the man and with herself, for resorting to Death Eater methods. Yates was also dead: the killing curse had done it’s job, but Donner was only stunned.



Krystal thought for a moment, then Obliviated both Donner and Severus. She didn’t really care anymore if her identity was discovered, but she wanted Severus to have all the time she could give him to get his job done. If they were both Obliviated, it would look less suspicious; less like there was a traitor. Hopefully, You Know Who would assume one of his Ministry spies was the leak. She moved away from the injured men, taking one more look at Severus before disapparating out of there.



Krystal reappeared, her feet slipping a little in the blood that covered her shoes. She heard talking from upstairs, and took them two at a time. They had decided to meet in the Shrieking Shack, staying just for a short time, before they moved on. She burst into a room to her left, coming to a halt as a Stunner was sent at her.

She raised a shield quickly, yelling out “Hey, it’s me!’ as she spun to avoid the spell.

As the white light disappeared, she saw someone moving towards her fast. Before Remus could reach her though, Kingsley grasped his arm, stopping him.



The man raised his wand, pointing it at her. ‘Prove your identity,’ he demanded. ‘Ask her something, Remus.’

‘What did I ask you the night before I was taken?’ Remus said, his voice cracking.

Krystal smiled, her eyes filling with tears. ‘You asked me to marry you,’ she said.

Remus tore himself out of Kingsley’s grasp and threw an arm around her, pulling her tight to him.



“You’re alright, You’re really alright,’ she whispered, as tears of relief ran down her face. She hugged him hard, running her hands over his back and neck, hardly daring to believe it was really him.

Remus kissed her head, saying hoarsely, “When they came back without you, I thought…..”

His voice trailed off as he pulled back and looked closely at her.



“You’re hurt!’ he exclaimed. She shook her head, smiling at him.

“It’s not my blood, I’m fine.” Remus smiled back at her and pulled her head towards him with one hand, kissing her hard.

“I was so scared, Remus. I love you,’ she said softly between kisses.

“I love you too,’ he breathed as he hugged her to him again, burying his face in her neck.



“Sorry guys, but Krystal, we need to get out of here. Tonks needs more help than I can give her here.”

Bill’s voice broke into their reunion and the lovers turned to see Bill, Charlie and Kingsley kneeling next to a pale and shaking Tonks. Krystal broke out of Remus’ grasp and moved to kneel next to Bill.

“What hit her?’ she asked, taking in Tonks’ shallow breathing.

“I’m not sure,’ said Bill. “I’m going to take her to a healer I know. He won’t give us away…..I trust him.”

Remus stood beside Krystal, a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll come with you,’ he said. “I think I may need to get a few things looked at as well.” For the first time, Krystal noticed his already lined face looked grey and ill; his torn and bloodstained clothes; and how thin he’d become.



Kingsley and Charlie took their leave, and disapparated out of the shack; Charlie headed off to return the Invisibility Cloak to Harry, who had been waiting nervously for news at The Burrow for the last hour, his appearance having been altered with Polyjuice Potion to look like one of the Weasley twins. Bill and Krystal each slung an arm around Tonks, supporting her, and, as Remus grabbed Krystal’s hand, Bill disapparated them to his friends house.



An hour later, Tonks was laying on clean sheets, still pale, but breathing normally. Krystal sat on the bottom of the bed, watching the younger woman as she slept. Bill had sent a Patronus to Fleur and his parents to let her know they were all fine, while his healer friend, Matt, was patching up Remus’ many broken bones and bruises.



Tonks was still sleeping when Krystal suddenly began to shake. Now that the relief was hitting her, and the adrenaline fading, she felt sick. She stood quickly and moved to the bathroom, where she only just made it to the toilet before throwing up.



Once she’d emptied her stomach, she lay on the cool tiles, letting her shaking subside before she tried to stand. She crawled to the sink and used the cabinet to pull herself up, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Krystal stared horrified at the blood splattered face and clothes. A flash of an old dream came to her: bright red blood all over her hands.



Her breath came quicker as she turned the tap on and splashed handfuls of water over her face, scrubbing hard at her skin. She was gasping for breath by the time she started pulling at her stained clothes. Unable to get them off fast enough, she gave up and got into the shower fully clothed, turning the taps on hard, watching the blood and water run down the drain.



Krystal didn’t know how long she’d stood under the stinging water before Remus came into the bathroom. She felt him undressing her, and felt his naked body against hers. He ran a bar of soap over her, washing away the physical evidence of the night. The soap made their bodies slip against each other as Remus held her close under the rushing water until she was breathing easily and back in control. She looked up at him, and he leant down, kissing her gently.



Remus had towels and spare clothes for both of them, supplied by Matt. Hand in hand they left the bathroom, stopping to check on Tonks. As Krystal checked the woman’s breathing to ensure it was still even, Remus sat on the chair next to the bed.

“Is she going to be alright?”

Krystal nodded, sitting back at the bottom of the bed.

“She organised the whole rescue from the Ministry‘s end. I couldn’t have done it without her help.” She looked at Remus. “She still cares for you.”

Remus smiled. “I care about her too,’ he said, reaching out for Krystal’s hand. “But I love you.”



Krystal opened her mouth to respond, but a groan from Tonks grabbed their attention. Krystal left the room to tell Matt that his patient was waking up, while Remus moved his chair closer to the bed, slipping his hand over his former fiancee’s. Her eyes fluttered open and she focused on Remus’ face.



“Hi,’ he said quietly.

“You’re alright?” she said, her voice croaky.

He nodded and she smiled. “Good. I’m glad.”

Remus squeezed her hand. “Krystal told me how much you did to help me. Thank you.” Tonks waved her free hand, “It was nothing - would have done it for anyone.” Remus smiled.

“It was Krystal who was taking the real risk. You know she was going to offer a swap if this didn’t work; if they wanted to kill you - herself in exchange for you?”



Remus frowned and shook his head. No one had told him that.

“Well, she doesn’t have to now. There was no force on earth that could have kept her safe at home tonight though. We all tried to tell her that she‘d be seen, but she wanted to fight for you.” Remus felt his heart swell with love for Krystal. Again, she’d risked her own life to give him a chance.



Tonks kept her eyes on his face as she spoke. “She loves you very much,’ she said softly.

Remus nodded and replied, “I love her very much also. I’m sorry about everything, Tonks. I never meant to hurt you.”

She made a shooshing noise. “Its ok. I guess in my heart I knew I was pushing you into marriage. I had to propose to you, for Merlin’s sake!” She smiled for a second, before her face turned serious.

“I never saw you look as happy as that day you told me you were going to ask her to marry you. I could never have made you look like that. I’m glad that you and Krystal found each other again.”

Remus leant over the bed and kissed Tonks quickly on the lips. “Thank you.”



“Excuse me,’ a male voice interrupted from the doorway.

Remus turned to see Matt and Krystal standing there. Matt moved to Tonks’ side as Remus stood, looking at Krystal, who smiled at him.

“Matt has offered us one of his spare rooms for the night,’ she said, holding out her hand. “I don’t know about you, but I need to sleep - for a very long time.” He smiled and took her hand.



They turned to say goodnight to Tonks, who was being checked over by Matt. Remus noticed as he left the room that Matt took Tonks hand in his own, smiling down at her. He followed Krystal into a small, tidy room with a single bed. They didn’t even undress: falling onto the bed and, after arranging themselves on the small mattress, letting sleep take them.