A/N: Hello. If you didn't realize from the fan in fanfiction, this was written by a fan, not Jo Rowling. I'm only borrowing the characters, sadly. There's a decent amount of them that I would like to keep, but alas…
Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER 1:
It was early in the morning, for some it was perhaps another day. Most in England were asleep in their beds. But Sirius knew enough to recognize that a new era had begun for the wizarding world, a war which had cost him almost everything had come back to follow him and had already affected the one thing he had left, the one thing which had been his motivation through 12 years of reliving his worse memories.
Harry Potter.
And so it came to be the one last reminder of his best friend had witnessed the return of the most feared dark wizard in the century. And the 2nd war had begun.
This was why he was waiting outside a small, dingy, 1-bedroomed flat, waiting to recruit an old friend into the rebellion. He had met Remus only once since escaping Azkaban, where they had allowed Pettigrew to slip through their fingers. He was not looking forward to telling Remus that Pettigrew had just successfully returned Voldemort back to power one bit. But it had to be done. And he did want to see Remus.
He knew Remus Lupin had probably been condemned to 12 years almost as dark as his, a good portion of which was probably filled with bitter hate towards him, confusion and regret. Sirius was very familiar with these feelings. Why would anyone so close to the Potters have turned spy against them? How did he not see this? He could have stopped it! The Potters could be alive and well, forever the happy family set in stone, in statue in the graveyard which he had waited 12 years to visit, 12 years to pay tribute to his inseparable brother.
After realizing Sirius' innocence, Remus would have redirected these thoughts, though after dwelling for 12 years, Sirius knew that he would always be a reminder of his bitter feelings and lonely years.
Remus returned home from work in a state of zombie-like tiredness. A nearing full moon and working night shifts tended to do that to him. I wasn't until a voice called out that he noticed a thin man in ragged, grey robes with long, black, matted hair.
"I was wondering when you would be getting home, Remus."
Shocked, Remus had his wand out before realizing who it was.
"Sirius! What- What are- Shouldn't you be…?" Bewilderment was slowly being overcome by a smile as he strolled towards Sirius and embraced him.
"Come on, better get inside" He continued, a curious smile on his face.
Remus was the first to speak.
"It's good to see that you're okay, but, shouldn't you be… somewhere else? Preferably out of the country. And preferably transformed?"
"I was for a bit. But I've been fulfilling my duty as godfather, which is easier closer to Hogwarts. And now I've been sent here, by Dumbledore. I have some news."
"Hungry?"
"Sure, but we should talk first."
Noting his grim tone, Remus sat at his table, his smile, so wide, was now replaced as the lines of worry appeared. Sirius sat, breathed deeply, looking at the table.
"Where to begin…?" Sirius muttered to himself, "Have you been getting the daily prophet?"
"Yeah, I know about Harry's name in the- Wait! The third task was today! It's about that isn't it? What happened? Is Harry okay?"
"He's fine… now at least, anyways", said Sirius, though he avoided Remus' eyes as though he was ashamed.
"Padfoot, what-"
"Voldemort's back".
Remus opened his mouth but nothing came out. After a moment he managed to choke out, "Harry? What? How? Harry wasn't? What happened, Sirius?" He finished, desperately, his hands clutching at his table.
"Harry was there, he used Harry to get his body back. He transported Harry from the third task, via a portkey. No-one knew he'd gone, they couldn't see, they were in a maze."
"How could…? Wait, used Harry? What do you mean?"
"Pettigrew" Sirius spat furiously, "made a potion! "Bone of the father, flesh of the servant-" Remus noted Sirius clenched fists, and found his hands also clenched into tight fists.
"-And blood of the enemy"
Remus turned white, and whispered, "Harry… Peter?" but got no reply as Sirius had his head in his hands.
Remus knew it was Peter to turned in the Potters, gave them to Voldemort, but somewhere he'd always hoped he was forced into it, that he would turn away, at least regret it. Yet the fact that after Sirius escaping and finding his hidey hole he had gone right back to Voldemort shocked him. He thought it was a last resort, that he I must have been threatened for, but he returned freely.
"He stabbed Harry, he stabbed James' son, to bring back the murder of James and Lily. He passed information to them for over a year. He wasn't even threatened. Voldemort wouldn't have even bothered to threaten him, would think he knew nothing." Saying it aloud finally made it sink in for Remus.
"Filthy, selfish piece of shit," Sirius hissed, "He was always the little rat. How did we not see it, Moony?"
A long silence insured, as two men, both stricken by misfortune since before they could remember, being a werewolf; an outcast of society, and being born into a discriminative family with members including the most coldhearted mass-murderers of the century, became part of the most brilliant, mischievous, tight-knit group, and though they were never quite whole, they were happy, only to have the solid base ripped apart, repeated some of the dwelling they had bot spent the subsequent years doing.
"I should get you some food; you look like you haven't eaten in 14 years, Padfoot." Remus said quietly, getting up.
And though Sirius still had a rather vacant expression he suddenly said, "We're setting the order back up. That's why I'm meant to here. Dumbledore is going to contact us here."
With timing, as perfect as always, there was a sudden knock on the door and after Remus hurried to open the door, to find Dumbledore, who seemed almost shining, ahead of the darkness of the night.
A/N: Reviews are very much appreciated, no matter how short, or negative. Thanks!