A/N: A Remus/Sirius fan fiction. Dedicated to my BFFL, Annabelle. (Bella1Belle.)

Prologue: The Last Marauder.

The man in the shabby robes with four day's beard growth on his chin stood in Professor Dumbledore's office, uncharacteristically angry.

Remus Lupin shook, his head, hands trembling in anger and shock. 'How could you do this?' He shouted. 'How could you let something like this happen? You're supposed to be in control!'

'I assure you, Remus,' Dumbledore said calmly. 'It was not on purpose that I neglected my duties to screen your friends properly.'

Remus took a deep shuddering breath. 'You're blaming us now, then?' He snarled, Dumbledore's hidden message as plain as day to Remus. 'Peter Pettigrew was our friend. Lily and James didn't think twice about letting him on the Fidelius Charm. It was a no-brainer!'

'Well,' Dumbledore inclined his head, long silvery beard falling over his shoulders, now hunched with an untold burden. 'Maybe you should have.' He said softly, his voice rolling over Remus like waves on the beach.

Remus steadied himself, hands curled into fists at his sides. 'Well,' he sighed. 'That's not what I wanted to yell at you for. I'll save that for another time. I have a favour to ask.'

Dumbledore smiled slightly. 'Go on, then.'

'Get Sirius out.' Remus' voice was low and intense, his eyes were upset, full of unshed tears and unspoken promises to his oldest friend, now locked up in Azkaban. 'He wont survive in there. You know he wont.'

Dumbledore shook his head regretfully, sitting in the seat behind the desk as if standing was now too much for him. 'I cant,' he told Remus.

'You have to!' Remus growled. 'It may be our fault that Peter knew where they lived, but it was Peter who betrayed us, Peter who framed Sirius, but it is you who's at fault for him getting away.'

'Sirius was hot headed,' Dumbledore told Remus with a heavy heart. 'He didn't have to go after Peter, he didn't have to get himself into that situation.'

'Of course he did!' Remus said exasperatedly. 'He's Sirius. That's who he is, hot headed and fiercely loyal to his friends, sometimes to the point of stupidity.'

Dumbledore shrugged, irritatingly worldly and wise. 'I cannot help you, Remus.'

Remus banged his fist on the desk in a fit of out of character frustration and began to pace.

'You, Remus,' Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, 'are the last of…what did you call yourselves… the Marauders. It is my duty to protect you.'

Remus shook his head. 'No, if I have failed James and Lily, I must help Sirius.'

Dumbledore walked over and laid a heavy hand upon Remus' hunched shoulder. 'Go,' he said in a soft voice. 'Go and live the rest of your life. Keep yourself safe. Be your own Secret Keeper. They would want you to.'

What do you think so far??? Review please!!!