I do not own Harry Potter.
***
"Imagine that Voldemort's powerful now. You don't know who his supporters are, you don't know who's working for him and who isn't; you know he can control people so that they do terrible things without being able to stop themselves. You're scared for yourself, your family, and your friends." -Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
***
Remus Lupin gazed out at the London skyline from his window on the 6th floor of the Ministry building. There was a steady rain falling outside, giving the old buildings a glazed, hazy look. It was a sleepy, peaceful morning. He'd had the same view for nearly two years now, but he had not yet grown bored with it. It still astounded him how lucky he was, to be working in the Ministry fresh out of school, and, one promotion later, to be the Assistant Chair of the Department of Minorities. He'd been recommended by Dumbledore upon graduation and the Ministry had been glad to take him; he had passed N.E.W.T. History and his marks were all but perfect (ironically, only Sirius and James had ended up higher on the class rank list; a blow to Remus, who was considered by them to be the studious, bookish one). Dumbledore had known he'd be an excellent choice; he had had many Muggle-born and halfblood friends, not to mention a personal interest in certain oppressed groups. The department itself was crucial; in this day and age, with so much pureblood fervor, it was up to Lupin and his superiors to ensure that anti-Muggle terror laws and equality bills remained intact and enforced. When it came to adjusting and carrying out laws, Remus had practically no say- but when new laws wanted to be passed, they had to go through him first. It was a boost to his pride to be able to veto ridiculous proposals before even showing them to his superiors and a thrill to see those that he did pass appear as full-out laws only weeks later.
1. He prodded the small cauldron behind his desk to heat up a cup of Ever-Brewing Tea, and sat down at his desk. It was old, wooden, not very spacious, but it was his. His office was humble, too, but he did not complain. After all, it had a great view. He had grown accustomed to his stable life: Every morning he woke in his flat on the outskirts of London, then Flooed to work. Usually Sirius stopped in for lunch, giving him a light break in the hours of law-making. Since Sirius wasn't as fond of schedules and timing as Remus was, he couldn't be expected at exactly noon, but at least he usually made an effort not to interrupt Remus's work.
Today was one of the days he didn't. The door banged open and Sirius appeared, soaked entirely. He stepped into the office and immediately began to shake his head violently, like a dog, spraying water off his longish hair in every which direction.
Remus dodged the blast. "Agghh! Sirius! Not all over the papers!" he laughed.
"Hey, it's a habit," Sirius shrugged. "You can't spend every full moon as a dog without picking up some of the habits . . . and you can't talk; I've seen how you eat steak."
"You could have worn a hat, you know," Remus admonished playfully.
Sirius laughed his barklike laugh. "Are you kidding? I love the feel of the wind in my hair!"
Remus grinned in understanding. "Ahh, the motorbike again. There wasn't much wind to be had in your hair this morning, was there?"
"No . . . " Sirius stepped closer to Remus, " . . . just . . . RAIN!" He shook his head again and this time Remus could dodge at all. The two fell back into a pair of wooden chairs, laughing, Sirius a little dizzy.
"So, what's been up, Moony?" Sirius asked for a moment.
"Well, seeing as how I just saw you yesterday, nothing since then," admitted Remus. Then he sighed. "You still call me 'Moony.' Isn't it getting old?"
"Nah. You'll always be Moony to me."
Remus half-smiled. "Yes, but I just wonder sometimes if anyone would pick up what it means . . . "
"If they didn't pick it up all the times we used it at Hogwarts, they're not going to pick it up now. You do realize that we've practically shouted about it in front of people before and no one's caught on. People aren't observant. They'd have to be outright told. Besides, it's not like you even look suspicious. Everyone thinks werewolves are this shifty, hairy, evil things. You're not exactly shifty. Maybe a little hairy . . . "
Remus smiled again, though still mildly. Sirius poked him in the ribs. "Lighten up! This 9-to-5 job is making you serious."
"I'm happy to have a job."
"I wouldn't be. Seeing as how I don't have one," Sirius tipped back in his chair, balancing it on two legs as he had done since his first days at Hogwarts. Sirius's uncle had left him a substantial inheritance, so he was living in the same monetary situation he might have been if he had stayed an aristocratic Black- comfortable and disinclined to work. "I just get bored because I never have anyone to hang 'round with anymore. You're making laws and first James was working, but now he's on 'family leave'-- Auror privilege, since they die so young- spending all his time with Lily, since the baby's due in four months. And I don't even know where Peter's got to."
"I haven't seen him in a while, either," shrugged Remus.
There came a knock at the door, Sirius jumped up, his chair falling flat on its back to the floor. Lucius Malfoy appeared in the office, carrying a stack of papers. Sirius approached him.
Lucius glowered down at him. "Excuse me, but I need to speak with Lupin, Mr. . . . er, what am I supposed to call you? For you're not really a proper Black, are you?" he sneered.
"I don't want you to call me anything; I don't need your filthy tongue besmirching my name," Sirius said coldly.
Lucius's lip twitched. "I was implying that there was no name to be had. Now, as I said . . . Excuse me."
Sirius stepped aside with a mockery of a sweeping bow. Lucius pretended as if he meant it, ruining the effect. Sirius blushed slightly and swept some of his damp hair out of his eyes.
Lucius set the papers on the desk. Lupin got to his feet to listen intently. "Now, these are proposals endorsed by a certain prominent society," he said edgily. "Some of the top wizarding families, including myself, have been signatories to them. I suggest you tend to them sooner than later, not at your leisure. I understand they must go through you first before moving on to the true authorities." He sounded as if he found this a great hassle. "Now, I must carry on with my own business--"
"What, terrorizing Muggles?" Sirius cut in.
Lucius glared at him. "No. Wedding plans. I suppose you wouldn't have heard, being the family reject, but I am betrothed to your former cousin. Our wedding is in a month."
Sirius shook his head pityingly. "Narcissa could have done much better. Yet, then again, perhaps the two of you deserve each other."
Lucius's lip curled again, but he spoke nothing and walked out. As soon as he was gone, Sirius slammed his fist on the table. "Agghh! Surely you're not going to take mad orders from HIM, are you?"
Remus was sifting quietly through the papers. "I've been told to listen to Malfoy; he donates profusely to the Ministry . . . but this is ridiculous! Look at this: Banning Muggle-borns from Hogwarts, allowing wizard children to practice magic outside of school without Ministry intervention, legalizing the Unforgivable Curses! This is madness, that's what this is!"
Sirius laughed and then blew a piece of hair up from his face by breathing sideways through closed lips. "I don't know about that practicing magic outside of school . . . I would have liked that when I was at Hogwarts."
"Yes, but then the Muggle-born children wreak havoc on their siblings and blow up their house and their parents don't have inkling of an idea of what to do."
"Yes, but if you ban all the Muggle-borns from Hogwarts, you don't have to worry about that, do you?" Sirius pointed out facetiously.
Remus laughed and sighed at the same time.
Sirius came over and leaned on him, placing his arm around his shoulder. "Look, Remus . . . you've got a conscience. You know this is rubbish. Don't let him walk all over you just because he's rich. I mean, this is the guy we drenched in pudding fifth year, remember? The same guy. Just because he's grown up and gotten a manor doesn't mean he's not still the same arrogant big-talking prat he always was. In fact, I'd say he's gotten worse. Just picture him in the pudding," Remus snorted; Sirius smiled again. "You wouldn't have taken orders from him when he was covered in pudding, would you? You wouldn't when he was Head Boy . . . you won't now, either."
Remus pointed out some of the signatures. "Moon, Nott, Avery, Malfoy, Wilkes, Travers . . . those are a lot of important people to contradict."
"Yeah, and I notice Crabbe and Goyle are on there, too. Do we really want to entrust our legislature to them? Wait a second- why's Regulus on there as a signatory? Since when do people propose laws endorsed by kid prats still at school?" Sirius scratched his chin. "Hmm, maybe that means dear old Father's popped his clogs, then. Regulus must just have filled in for him. Wish Father had taken Mum with him."
"It could be he's just part of that 'secret society.'" pointed out Remus. "I bet you anything it's the Death Eaters. I'll set this down as a load of rubbish. Malfoy and his friends can just continue their little Muggle-hunts- which, I might add, are being even more closely monitored. Crouch is tracking Mulciber and Jugson now and I hear the Aurors have already killed Rosier. Don't like the killing bit; James was never for it, either. Hmm, maybe this could be useful- so many names, as if it were a blacklist."
"Keep ahold of it, then," suggested Sirius. "Just, for the sake of Merlin, don't pass it."
***
"Imagine that Voldemort's powerful now. You don't know who his supporters are, you don't know who's working for him and who isn't; you know he can control people so that they do terrible things without being able to stop themselves. You're scared for yourself, your family, and your friends." -Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
***
Remus Lupin gazed out at the London skyline from his window on the 6th floor of the Ministry building. There was a steady rain falling outside, giving the old buildings a glazed, hazy look. It was a sleepy, peaceful morning. He'd had the same view for nearly two years now, but he had not yet grown bored with it. It still astounded him how lucky he was, to be working in the Ministry fresh out of school, and, one promotion later, to be the Assistant Chair of the Department of Minorities. He'd been recommended by Dumbledore upon graduation and the Ministry had been glad to take him; he had passed N.E.W.T. History and his marks were all but perfect (ironically, only Sirius and James had ended up higher on the class rank list; a blow to Remus, who was considered by them to be the studious, bookish one). Dumbledore had known he'd be an excellent choice; he had had many Muggle-born and halfblood friends, not to mention a personal interest in certain oppressed groups. The department itself was crucial; in this day and age, with so much pureblood fervor, it was up to Lupin and his superiors to ensure that anti-Muggle terror laws and equality bills remained intact and enforced. When it came to adjusting and carrying out laws, Remus had practically no say- but when new laws wanted to be passed, they had to go through him first. It was a boost to his pride to be able to veto ridiculous proposals before even showing them to his superiors and a thrill to see those that he did pass appear as full-out laws only weeks later.
1. He prodded the small cauldron behind his desk to heat up a cup of Ever-Brewing Tea, and sat down at his desk. It was old, wooden, not very spacious, but it was his. His office was humble, too, but he did not complain. After all, it had a great view. He had grown accustomed to his stable life: Every morning he woke in his flat on the outskirts of London, then Flooed to work. Usually Sirius stopped in for lunch, giving him a light break in the hours of law-making. Since Sirius wasn't as fond of schedules and timing as Remus was, he couldn't be expected at exactly noon, but at least he usually made an effort not to interrupt Remus's work.
Today was one of the days he didn't. The door banged open and Sirius appeared, soaked entirely. He stepped into the office and immediately began to shake his head violently, like a dog, spraying water off his longish hair in every which direction.
Remus dodged the blast. "Agghh! Sirius! Not all over the papers!" he laughed.
"Hey, it's a habit," Sirius shrugged. "You can't spend every full moon as a dog without picking up some of the habits . . . and you can't talk; I've seen how you eat steak."
"You could have worn a hat, you know," Remus admonished playfully.
Sirius laughed his barklike laugh. "Are you kidding? I love the feel of the wind in my hair!"
Remus grinned in understanding. "Ahh, the motorbike again. There wasn't much wind to be had in your hair this morning, was there?"
"No . . . " Sirius stepped closer to Remus, " . . . just . . . RAIN!" He shook his head again and this time Remus could dodge at all. The two fell back into a pair of wooden chairs, laughing, Sirius a little dizzy.
"So, what's been up, Moony?" Sirius asked for a moment.
"Well, seeing as how I just saw you yesterday, nothing since then," admitted Remus. Then he sighed. "You still call me 'Moony.' Isn't it getting old?"
"Nah. You'll always be Moony to me."
Remus half-smiled. "Yes, but I just wonder sometimes if anyone would pick up what it means . . . "
"If they didn't pick it up all the times we used it at Hogwarts, they're not going to pick it up now. You do realize that we've practically shouted about it in front of people before and no one's caught on. People aren't observant. They'd have to be outright told. Besides, it's not like you even look suspicious. Everyone thinks werewolves are this shifty, hairy, evil things. You're not exactly shifty. Maybe a little hairy . . . "
Remus smiled again, though still mildly. Sirius poked him in the ribs. "Lighten up! This 9-to-5 job is making you serious."
"I'm happy to have a job."
"I wouldn't be. Seeing as how I don't have one," Sirius tipped back in his chair, balancing it on two legs as he had done since his first days at Hogwarts. Sirius's uncle had left him a substantial inheritance, so he was living in the same monetary situation he might have been if he had stayed an aristocratic Black- comfortable and disinclined to work. "I just get bored because I never have anyone to hang 'round with anymore. You're making laws and first James was working, but now he's on 'family leave'-- Auror privilege, since they die so young- spending all his time with Lily, since the baby's due in four months. And I don't even know where Peter's got to."
"I haven't seen him in a while, either," shrugged Remus.
There came a knock at the door, Sirius jumped up, his chair falling flat on its back to the floor. Lucius Malfoy appeared in the office, carrying a stack of papers. Sirius approached him.
Lucius glowered down at him. "Excuse me, but I need to speak with Lupin, Mr. . . . er, what am I supposed to call you? For you're not really a proper Black, are you?" he sneered.
"I don't want you to call me anything; I don't need your filthy tongue besmirching my name," Sirius said coldly.
Lucius's lip twitched. "I was implying that there was no name to be had. Now, as I said . . . Excuse me."
Sirius stepped aside with a mockery of a sweeping bow. Lucius pretended as if he meant it, ruining the effect. Sirius blushed slightly and swept some of his damp hair out of his eyes.
Lucius set the papers on the desk. Lupin got to his feet to listen intently. "Now, these are proposals endorsed by a certain prominent society," he said edgily. "Some of the top wizarding families, including myself, have been signatories to them. I suggest you tend to them sooner than later, not at your leisure. I understand they must go through you first before moving on to the true authorities." He sounded as if he found this a great hassle. "Now, I must carry on with my own business--"
"What, terrorizing Muggles?" Sirius cut in.
Lucius glared at him. "No. Wedding plans. I suppose you wouldn't have heard, being the family reject, but I am betrothed to your former cousin. Our wedding is in a month."
Sirius shook his head pityingly. "Narcissa could have done much better. Yet, then again, perhaps the two of you deserve each other."
Lucius's lip curled again, but he spoke nothing and walked out. As soon as he was gone, Sirius slammed his fist on the table. "Agghh! Surely you're not going to take mad orders from HIM, are you?"
Remus was sifting quietly through the papers. "I've been told to listen to Malfoy; he donates profusely to the Ministry . . . but this is ridiculous! Look at this: Banning Muggle-borns from Hogwarts, allowing wizard children to practice magic outside of school without Ministry intervention, legalizing the Unforgivable Curses! This is madness, that's what this is!"
Sirius laughed and then blew a piece of hair up from his face by breathing sideways through closed lips. "I don't know about that practicing magic outside of school . . . I would have liked that when I was at Hogwarts."
"Yes, but then the Muggle-born children wreak havoc on their siblings and blow up their house and their parents don't have inkling of an idea of what to do."
"Yes, but if you ban all the Muggle-borns from Hogwarts, you don't have to worry about that, do you?" Sirius pointed out facetiously.
Remus laughed and sighed at the same time.
Sirius came over and leaned on him, placing his arm around his shoulder. "Look, Remus . . . you've got a conscience. You know this is rubbish. Don't let him walk all over you just because he's rich. I mean, this is the guy we drenched in pudding fifth year, remember? The same guy. Just because he's grown up and gotten a manor doesn't mean he's not still the same arrogant big-talking prat he always was. In fact, I'd say he's gotten worse. Just picture him in the pudding," Remus snorted; Sirius smiled again. "You wouldn't have taken orders from him when he was covered in pudding, would you? You wouldn't when he was Head Boy . . . you won't now, either."
Remus pointed out some of the signatures. "Moon, Nott, Avery, Malfoy, Wilkes, Travers . . . those are a lot of important people to contradict."
"Yeah, and I notice Crabbe and Goyle are on there, too. Do we really want to entrust our legislature to them? Wait a second- why's Regulus on there as a signatory? Since when do people propose laws endorsed by kid prats still at school?" Sirius scratched his chin. "Hmm, maybe that means dear old Father's popped his clogs, then. Regulus must just have filled in for him. Wish Father had taken Mum with him."
"It could be he's just part of that 'secret society.'" pointed out Remus. "I bet you anything it's the Death Eaters. I'll set this down as a load of rubbish. Malfoy and his friends can just continue their little Muggle-hunts- which, I might add, are being even more closely monitored. Crouch is tracking Mulciber and Jugson now and I hear the Aurors have already killed Rosier. Don't like the killing bit; James was never for it, either. Hmm, maybe this could be useful- so many names, as if it were a blacklist."
"Keep ahold of it, then," suggested Sirius. "Just, for the sake of Merlin, don't pass it."