Even with his nose ravaged by searing flames and acrid smoke, Sirius managed to detect human scent through his canine senses amid the choking miasma.
"Woof!"
Remus, this way!
Years of unbreakable partnership transcended species barriers—though Sirius currently existed as an oversized black dog and Lupin as a cognitively impaired werewolf, their communication remained flawless. Lupin instantly comprehended Sirius's bark and bounded toward him.
Sirius endured the caustic gases flooding his nasal passages. Involuntary tears streamed from his canine eyes as he lowered his head, following the scent trail to its source.
Directly beneath the shattered timber and debris at their feet.
Without hesitation, Sirius executed an aerial rotation, resuming human form mid-spin. His wand emerged, channeling magic to displace the collapsed wreckage. Werewolf Lupin required no instruction—understanding Sirius's intent, he deployed his enhanced lupine strength to excavate the buried remnants.
"Remus, we need speed—the inferno's expanding!"
"Awoooo."
"...I know. We can't abandon those Aurors either. I'll be counting on you."
"Awoooo!"
Through combined magical and physical effort, they finally cleared the debris mountain, exposing the mangled carriage beneath and seven unconscious Aurors trapped in the wreckage.
"Lend a hand."
Sirius magically swept away the carriage remains while Lupin extracted each Auror individually, arranging them in a secure formation across his massive back.
"Bloody hell—no sign of that bastard! Those scum must have extracted him!"
Sirius magically dissected every fragment of the destroyed transport, finding not so much as a fingernail of Peter Pettigrew. Rage consumed him—he viciously kicked a charred wooden plank, ignoring the pain shooting through his toes as he unleashed a torrent of profanity targeting Pettigrew, Voldemort, and every Death Eater in existence.
Mid-tirade, his kicked debris struck the surrounding wreckage, destabilizing the precarious equilibrium. Ominous creaking filled the air as the remaining ruins prepared for total collapse.
This shelter was doomed.
Sirius recognized the imminent danger, spinning toward Lupin.
"Damn—we're out of time! Move now or we're trapped!"
"Lupin, get them topside! I'll contain the peripheral collapse!"
"Impedimenta Maxima!"
Sirius erected invisible barriers around their position, dramatically slowing the debris avalanche. Lupin wasted no time on heroic dramatics—he immediately began ascending with his seven-Auror burden, leaping along their entry route toward surface salvation.
BOOM!
Two seconds later, the ruins thundered into complete collapse. Flames and dust erupted skyward in a hellish geyser. At the critical instant, surface vegetation rustled—a soot-covered black dog emerged from the devastation. Sirius had survived intact.
Though his magnificent coat bore flame damage that wounded his canine vanity.
Returning to ground level, Sirius resumed human form and began carving a path through the inferno, magical shields protecting their retreat.
The forest had become a vision of apocalypse. Choking smoke made breathing agony while flame-tongues licked hungrily at their flanks. Even Sirius couldn't guarantee complete fire resistance. To shield his Auror cargo from harm, Lupin adjusted his carrying method—cradling them against his chest while his thick pelt absorbed the thermal punishment.
The cost was severe—his fur suffered grotesque burns, releasing nauseating protein-combustion odors. Yet Lupin felt no regret.
He despised his lycanthropic form anyway. If this hated fur could protect innocent lives, let it burn.
"Impedimenta!"
"Repulso Totalum!"
"Scourgify Maxima!"
"Ventus Maximus!"
Preventing surrounding flames and falling timber from overwhelming their position demanded constant magical expenditure. Sirius's stamina and power reserves drained rapidly as perspiration—born of exhaustion and ambient heat—soaked his clothing completely.
Still insufficient. The conflagration continued expanding exponentially.
At this rate, both Lupin and I perish here.
Apparate them out individually?
Impossible—cessation of spellcasting means immediate incineration. Evacuation is categorically unfeasible.
Then... abandon them?
Sirius violently rejected the notion, teeth drawing blood from his lips to maintain focus and clarity.
Despite his antipathy toward Ministry bureaucrats, Sirius couldn't permit innocent deaths through his inaction.
Then only one option remains—endure until the end...
...
All in!
"Lupin, one final adventure together. Though we may not survive."
Sirius forced the words through parched lips, each syllable a struggle.
Lupin, cradling his precious cargo, released a low growl of absolute commitment. Though his lycanthropic cognition remained impaired, his loyalty burned undiminished.
Sirius's mouth curved in bittersweet recognition. For an instant, he was transported to their golden years—before betrayal shattered their brotherhood.
"Ventus Maximus!"
His wand carved the air as he roared the incantation. Hurricane winds exploded outward, temporarily repelling the flame assault.
But within heartbeats, the inferno surged back with redoubled fury...
........................
"Damnation—the fire's too massive! Have we arrived too late?!"
Ministry reinforcements had reached the forest perimeter. After the lead Auror's entry attempts proved futile, he slammed his fist against a nearby oak in frustrated rage.
His head bowed in defeat, eyes reflecting not merely anger but profound helplessness.
"Look—what is that?!"
A shout from behind snapped his attention skyward.
The forest flames parted like a crimson sea as fierce winds carved an escape corridor. Two figures—one massive, one human—stumbled through the breach, supporting each other on unsteady legs.
"Quite the... welcoming committee you've... arranged..."
Sirius's vision darkened as consciousness fled, and he collapsed into merciful oblivion.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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