A/N: Hey, y'all! I'm back for more. :) Your support means a lot to me, guys, so thank you to everyone who has made time to read my stories. You are all amazing.

So, a little background for this story: each chapter will be based on a song from a musical. I will not be putting the lyrics in here or anything like that, but I will let you know what song inspired the chapter and what musical it's from, in case you're interested. This is also multi-perspective.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Those rights go to J.K. Rowling.

Carry Me Home

This is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde)

Chapter 1

Remus John Lupin sighed, his back and arms aching. He raised his pickaxe above his head, and brought it back down again, trying to ignore the way the rough wood scraped across his hands. For four years he had done this, joined his fellow inmates in their quest- mining for diamonds, gold, and iron, anything that might help the war effort. Except, this was entirely the wrong side of the war to be working for, in Remus' opinion, but he had no choice- not if he valued his life. And he had to get out of here. He had to see his mother again. She needed him.

She was why he was there in the first place.

Remus Lupin was not a hardened criminal. He was not ruthless, or coldhearted. He had been sentenced to four years of relentless labor for stealing bread for his mother and Frank Longbottom's family. He had been caught, but not before he had gotten the food to Frank and the instructions to run, before they caught them, and to make sure his mother got some.

Frank's eyes widened in horror. "But, Remus, I can't leave you behind! They'll kill you, or worse, recruit you to fight on Riddle's side-"

Remus put a hand on his shoulder. "Frank. I'd die before I fought for him, and if they do kill me, I die knowing that you all get to live another week."

Franks grabbed Remus' wrist. "Please. Don't sacrifice yourself for us, we're in this together- you and I, and our mothers."

Remus smiled sadly. "Don't you see, Frank? I'd never be able to live with myself if I did anything else. I'll see you again, I promise. Take care of Mum, alright?"

Frank looked lost. "Please," he begged. "We can both get away."

Remus shook his head. "You know how Riddle's world works. Someone committed a crime, so someone must pay. They have no idea that you were an accomplice, and it's my fault they're after us. I got caught. I'll pay the price. Go."

"It was our plan," Frank whispered. "Ours."

Remus hugged him tight, then whispered in his ear. "Go."

Clutching the stolen food to hs chest, Frank took off, ducking down an alley right before Riddle's soldiers caught sight of Remus. They grabbed him roughly, arrested him, and Remus was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.

He had only been seventeen.

Now he was twenty-one.

He knew more about the world now.

Remus wiped the sweat off his brown, the black grime from mining smearing across his forehead. It was cool in the mine, but the work was difficult, and Remus always sweated buckets before the day was over. After so long in the mines, Remus was thin, but strong. His hands were heavily calloused, and were littered with tiny scars, but Remus still clung to hope. Hope that someday soon, the war would be over and he would be free- or that his sentence would end, and he could go home, to his mother.

"Put your back in it, boys!" cackled one of the overseers. She was the worst- she was at Tom Riddle's right side. Wild curly dark hair, ebony eyes, and she was quite mad. Bellatrix Lestrange loved to terrorize the prisoners. "The Dark Lord is getting impatient for supplies!"

Remus swung the pickaxe down hard, breaking the rock it hit. Nothing. He groaned inwardly. He was fairly sure that they had exhausted this part of the mine, which meant that they'd begin to send people in deeper, which was very dangerous. Remus shivered involuntarily. Someday soon, he'd be out of here.

Hopefully.

Bellatrix climbed atop a large boulder, and cleared her throat. "Today's release," she began. Everyone stopped working and stared at the number that had been burnt into their skin upon their arrival hopefully.

Please, Remus thought desperately as he wrenched his own sleeve up. Let it be today.

"Come forward, 764902."

Remus stared at his arm in shock. There, on his flesh, read, 76490... 3.

Bitter disappointment welled up inside him. He had been so close. Maybe next time.

Or, maybe never.

Antonin Dolohov, whose rank was just below Bellatrix's, approached her. "Madame Lestrange..."

"What?" she snapped at him.

"Prisoner 764902... is dead. He died last week. I suggest moving on to the next prisoner... the one whose release was also due this week."

Bellatrix pouted. "Oh, if I must." She sighed, and read out again. "764903. Come forward."

Heart in his mouth, Remus limped over. The others cast jealous glances at him and went back to work. He stopped in front of Bellatrix.

She looked down her nose at him haughtily. He was nearly six inches taller than her, but she still stood on that boulder.

"Your sentence is up," she informed him. "Do you know what that means?"

How thick did she think he was? "Yes. It means I'm free to go."

Bellatrix snarled. She'd be very beautiful if her expressions weren't so ugly. "No. It means that you don't have to mine anymore." She leaned closer to him. "We will be watching you. There is no where you can go that we can't follow."

Remus' heart raced. "Why would you want to keep tabs on me?"

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed, her sour breath tickling his face. "I know your kind. You may be a part of the rebellion- or you soon will be- but mark my words... your talents would be better used on my Lord's side. Tom Riddle can keep you protected. If you join the Order of the Phoenix... you will be shown no mercy."

Remus took a step back. "I don't even know what that is."

Bellatrix leaned back. "Make sure it stays that way."

As Remus hurried away, Bellatrix called after him. "Do not forget Bellatrix Lestrange, 764903. I will not forget you."

Remus shivered.


Remus walked along the alleyways that he used to know like the back of his hand. The road system was the same, but the buildings were new, as were the people on the street. No one recognized him.

Perhaps it was better that way.

Remus shook his head. No. This was his chance to start anew, to get a good job and elevate his status, so he might protect his mother and stay out of Riddle's numbers. He could picture it now: a small, cozy cottage tucked away from all the warfare, his mother and Frank's mother laughing by the fire, Remus and Frank exchanging stories. Maybe Frank's wife- if he had one- would be entertaining her children and shaking her head at her husband and Remus. Maybe Remus' wife would be cooking in their kitchen, her belly swollen with their unborn child-

Remus shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself.

He passed by the many merchants desperately attempting to trade their goods, and the market stalls selling fruit and vegetables. Somewhere around here, he knew, was the tiny shack-like house where he and his mother had lived. If only he could remember exactly where to turn...

"Remus Lupin! Boy, is that you?"

Remus turned. Then his face split into the first grin he had worn in four years. "Augusta! It's been awhile!"

Augusta Longbottom hurried over to Remus and embraced him tightly. "Oh, boy, I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're out of that hellhole."

Remus gripped her just as tightly. "So am I. I'm glad to be out. I've missed you." He pulled away slightly, taking in Augusta's heavily lined face and steely blue eyes. Her hair, just as he remembered, was iron-grey and wound in a thick bun at the nape of her neck. "How's Mum?"

Augusta's face fell. "Oh, Remus, dear..."

"Mum?" another familiar voice called. "Where'd you go?"

Frank. He rounded the corner, a woman Remus did not recognize at his side. The two of them were carrying an armful of groceries, and Remus' mouth watered.

Remus stuffed his hands in his shabby coat pockets. "Hullo, Frank." Tears pricked at his eyes. "Remember me?"

The bags spilled from Frank's arms. His green eyes were wide. "Remus," he breathed. Then he laughed. "It's really you!"

The two old friends ran to each other, and hugged fiercely.

Frank pulled away after a moment, his face wet. "You're too thin," he grinned sadly. "And you're hands are too rough."

Remus shrugged. "I had to work in the mines for a while. You get strong pretty fast."

Frank's eyes widened. "The mines?"

Remus nodded. "Yeah," he admitted quietly.

The woman approached them. "Frank? Who's this?"

Frank's face brightened. "Dear, this is Remus, my oldest friend. Remus, this is Alice, my wife- we were wed last year."

Remus smiled. He stuck out his hand. "It's a pleasure."

Alice shoved her bags at Frank and shook his hand warmly. Her curly brown hair was tied back from her round face, and her warm brown eyes sparkled happily. "A friend of Frank's is a friend of mine."

Frank laughed. "I'll fill you in about Remus in a minute, love. He's a good man. And Remus, I'll fill you in on what you've missed, if you'll just come with us."

Remus nodded, and fell in step beside Frank. The two men gathered up the fallen bags, and Remus followed Frank to the house he and Alice shared.

"Frank," Remus asked after a moment. "How's Mum?"

Frank stopped walking. He drew a shaky breath. "Remus, mate... Hope died last year."

Remus felt as though he had been punched in the gut. His breath was stolen from him, and he was vaguely aware that he was shaking his head in disbelief.

Frank looked at him apologetically. "She... didn't do so well after you were arrested. Then she got sick, and, well, we're doing better financially now, but we still couldn't afford the proper medicine for her. She wasn't in any pain." he added softly. "I'm so sorry, mate."

Remus swallowed, and nodded. "She's with Dad now, anyway. She's happier. At least now, she's away from the war."

Frank nodded. "Let's go inside."

The four of them sat in the Longbottom's living room, and Remus gratefully accepted the bread and cheese that Augusta offered him, and the tea that came after it.

Frank sighed, and turned to Alice's questioning gaze. "Alice, love. You remember how I said that, before I met you, things were kind of... rough?"

Alice nodded, looking worried.

Frank pursed his lips. "Well, we were getting a little desperate. So Remus and I- we've known each other since we were kids- we pulled a little... stunt."

Augusta rolled her eyes. "Just spit it out, son." She turned to her daughter-in-law. "The four of us- those two boys, myself, and Remus' mother- were in the slums, barely scraping by. Remus' mother, Hope, was too sickly to work, and, let's face it- I just can't move like I used to. Frank and Remus pulled the odd job for a couple of coins, but they were too young to be hired permanently." Augusta narrowed her eyes at Alice, looking extremely intimidating. "We were starving. Another day without food, and the lot of us would have been dead. So Remus nicked some bread from an estate. Frank helped him get away, but Riddle's soldiers were after them. Remus gave himself up so Frank could get away with the food. That was four years ago."

Alice's eyes were bright. "Oh, Frank, you should have told me." she whispered. She turned to Remus. "Are you... alright?"

Remus attempted a smile. "Better than most."

Augusta frowned. "What have you been doing there, anyway, boy?"

"Mining, he said," Frank spoke up.

Augusta huffed. "Damn that Riddle."

Remus shuddered. "Never saw him," he murmured. "But Antonin Dolohov and Bellatrix Lestrange were frequents there."

The Longbottoms stilled. Frank turned to Remus, the fear evident in his eyes. "You've seen them?"

Remus nodded, turning the mug of tea around in his hands. He looked up suddenly, a strange excitement filling him. "Have you ever heard of the Order of the Phoenix?"

Augusta frowned, and Frank shook his head. Alice, however, looked a bit startled. "Why do you want to know?" she asked.

Remus lowered his voice. "Upon my release, Bellatrix warned me not to join. I think it must be some sort of group that opposes Riddle. She told me to remain ignorant of it, and that my 'talents' would be better used working for Riddle."

Alice looked intrigued, while Frank looked worried. "But... why would they want you, Remus?"

Remus shrugged. "I dunno. But think about it. If we were to join, we could help take Riddle down. We could start a revolution!"

Frank stared. "Remus. You just got out of prison after four long years- and that was for stealing one loaf of bread. Imagine what could happen if you were caught helping a secret society that was plotting against Riddle."

Remus frowned. "Frank, that's why we need it. Imagine- a fair law system, lower taxes, equal opportunity-"

Frank shook his head. "No, Remus. I only just got you back. I can't lose you again. Please, just... before you go off changing the world, get back on your feet, okay? Wait a while. To make sure that's really what you want."

Remus' shoulders sagged. "You're probably right."

Frank relaxed. "You can stay here," he offered. "I'm sure Alice won't mind." He looked at his wife for confirmation.

Alice, still looking thoughtful, nodded absentmindedly. "Of course he can stay here. He's a brave man."

Remus quickly shook his head. "I don't want to impose."

"Just until you can get back on your feet, then," Alice offered. "Please, Remus. It's no trouble."

Remus bit his lip. "Well... just until I get a job and can afford my own place."

Frank nodded. "Of course."

That night, Remus quietly mourned the loss of his mother as he laid in the first bed he had slept in in four years. He was no longer so eager to join the Order of the Phoenix, but the idea didn't completely leave his mind. He resolved to look for a job the next day, and Frank offered to take him to his mother's grave on his way to work the next morning.

Remus closed his eyes, a kind woman with auburn hair and his amber eyes invading his dreams.