A violently crumbled newspaper falls to the ground while a distinctive 'pop' echoes in the air. Bruised, hungry, disheveled, and in a state of total disbelief, Remus lands in front of the destroyed visage of a once familiar house. He chokes on a breath, too emotional to even make a sound. He apparates again, this time to the Leaky Cauldron and runs straight for the ministry. A hand reaches out to stop him feet from the entrance. His chaotic mind takes in the long beard and the half moon spectacles. The wizard is apparating both of them before he can react. The next thing Remus is aware of is the soulful lament of a familiar phoenix and a cup of tea being pushed into his hands. He recognizes the china and the furniture as part of the headmaster's office.
"Forgive me for the sudden apparation Mr. Lupin. But I felt that the scene in the ministry may have been too much for you. I have been awaiting your return, given the circumstances." The piercing blue eyes held so much sorrow Remus found himself choking again.
"Tell me its not true professor. I...I..can't...oh god..." The shock finally wearing off, tears flow freely and stunt the werewolf's speech. "How did he find them? I can't believe...Sirius would never.. Oh god! Sirius! Where is he?" Tea sloshed over the side of tea cup as Remus moved it to a coffee table before him.
"There are many things that you need to understand Mr. Lupin. The events of last night were unpredicted by all of us. The first thing you need to understand is that Mr. Black was not their secret keeper." Remus started, but Dumbledore cut him off. "Two days ago, James and Lily and Sirius came to me. They decided that with circumstances being what they were, that it would be best if Mr. Black was not their Secret Keeper as he would be the obvious choice. Believing the best safety lie in a plan of trickery, they made Mr. Pettigrew their new Secret Keeper before settling into what they believed to be peaceful hiding." The headmaster took a sip of his tea observing the information registering on his companions face. Remus' already pale features turned slightly green.
"Pe..Peter? No...No...NO HEADMASTER NO! That would mean... that would mean. Ack.."
"I'm afraid so Remus." The exhaustion on the older wizard's face shattered Remus' heart more." It seems that our Mr. Pettigrew was the leak we have been chasing for months. I do not believe any of us thought him capable." Remus nodded shallowly.
"And Sirius? Where is he? Where...where is Harry? The Prophet said he lived but..." He busied his hands with his teacup, thankful for the calming drought he could taste inside, silently wishing for something stronger.
"I'm afraid Mr. Lupin that this news will be difficult to hear." He watched for signs that the potion had taken effect. "Upon hearing the news himself, Mr. Black ran after Mr. Pettigrew and they had a showdown in the middle of a busy muggle neighborhood." Remus' body doubled over in anticipation of what would come next. "The surviving muggle claimed-before their memories were modified- that Mr. Black was angry to the point of being unhinged. They had words the muggles couldn't hear before Mr. Pettigrew shouted "How could you kill James and Lily like that Sirius?" Before a large blast blew in the street, killing twelve muggles and leaving nothing but Mr. Pettigrew's finger." Remus felt his jaw open in shock.
"But...Sirius would never."
"The muggles attested that it seemed like both had their wands raised. In any case, Mr. Black was taken into custody..."
"Let me see him! I need to see him! I can vouch-" Remus' voice cracked from emotion and terror, he stood shaking and hysterical before Dumbledore.
"Unfortunately, before I could make it to the Ministry to help, Mr. Black was issued the kiss, and shortly thereafter executed." This information hit Remus with an almost brute physical force. He fell back to his seat ashen and dazed. This time the tears flowed silently.
"Mr. Lupin, I cannot begin to imagine what you are feeling-"
"Harry, wheres Harry? They say he lived?" The whisper forlorn as a paddle boat in a hurricane.
"That is perhaps the miracle in all of this. Harry is alive yes. It seems that Voldemort aimed to kill was destroyed. Harry is fine, he has a scar on his forehead from where the curse must have hit him, but he his alive. Minerva and myself delivered him to Lily's sister this morning."
"How?" Defeated and broken, Remus could barely feel relief that Harry had at least survived.
"While I am sure we will never know for certain, I believe that Lily and James sacrificing themselves for Harry created a sort of protection spell on Harry. And this spell backfired on Voldemort destroying him instead. Although I cannot be sure."
Remus pinched the bridge of his nose, the shock wrapping around him again. Feeling every one of his years and the months he had been on assignment. Standing and turning away from the other man, he stifled a new onset of tears.
"Forgive me Headmaster, I need to be alone, and I don't think I will be able to return to the field." Not waiting for an answer, Remus helped himself to the Floo, returned to the Leaky Cauldron, pushed his way through throngs of drunken revelers and walked into the cool afternoon air of muggle London. Finding the revelry spread through every main street even in the muggle world, he apparated at random and recklessly. Finding a quite street in what he believed to be south wales, he allowed himself to actually walk. It was not until he felt silence of an empty back alley that he allowed himself to crumble.
