Title; Be Death the Price
Pairings; Remus and Sirius - James and Lily - possible other notable ones.
Disclaimer; Sadly Harry Potter is not mine no matter how many times I manipulate it's characters.
Perspective; Remus Lupin
Notable texts;
"..." - talking
(...) - added thoughts
Italics - stressed words
"The what?"
"The prisoner. I mean, honestly Romulus! Us werewolves have got ta' stick up for ourselves somehow."
"Yeah... I guess." I muttered softly, eyes wandering toward the hut the werewolf had been talking about; that dreaded place where they kept some sort of wizard prisoner. I just knew it was more than my duty to check it out. At least, it was the duty of my own self-honor.
"... the Alpha's hut... Romulus, are you listening?"
God I hated having to use a fake name. I'm Remus, dammit! Remus! I held back this remark and smiled lightly. Couldn't blow my cover, after all. "I'm sorry... I get spacey this time of the month." I got a sympathetic nod from my escort and a somewhat amused reply to my reference of the moon.
"I know exactly what you mean."
-xxx-
Eleven-o-clock couldn't seem to come fast enough. I'd been pacing my room, occasionally throwing something into a duffel bag I'd laid open on the bed. Most of it wasn't really mine. Like the shirt I was currently folding. It had belonged to Sirius. And though three months and a different house and washing machine had taken his smell off of it, things just seemed that much easier when I wore it. Or any of his clothes for that matter. Though I'm not going to lie. Most of his things were too big for me as he'd been taller than me, and I looked quite foolish walking around in them. Then again I'd always been the type to have unfitting and often shabby clothes due to the little fact that I'm a werewolf and low on money.
James had occasionally came to the door asking if I intended to tell him what was going on. Each time I gave a polite, "I don't think so." and listened carefully as he sighed and walked off down the hall. I felt bad, leaving him in the dark like that. He was one of my best mates. I felt worse knowing that Lily was probably the one making him so insistent and that she would be less than pleased with his cryptic responses. That thought alone was enough to make me add my own sigh to the mix before giving my bag a quick check over. Everything seemed to be in order. Worse, I was fully packed and now had nothing else to do.
As today had already been way off my robotic schedule, I decided to leave the room. Grabbing the duffel bag I brought it downstairs with me and began for the living room. The sounds of little Harry laughing were dominant, but with my werewolf enhanced hearing it was no issue making out the other hushed voices as they talked.
"...best mate. You need to take care of him!"
"Lily, I'm trying but he's not making it very easy!"
"James, I know you don't want to push him."
God. They were fighting over me. I knew that had to be the topic of conversation as James sighed.
"Remus and Sirius were closer to each other on levels that the rest of us couldn't dream to reach with them. I just don't want to risk sending him over the edge. He's torn up enough without having to get over it so quickly." I could tell my friend was getting frustrated even through the sadness in his voice. I needed to stop this conversation. Eavesdropping was really not a nice thing to do.
Grinding my teeth together and taking a deep breath calmed me enough to shuffle into the room and throw my bag at one of the armchairs. Harry squealed and waved his chubby little arms at me. How the child had the energy to do so was beyond me. Be it moon time or no, (which wasn't coming up for another two weeks) I'd been feeling weak and tired ever since Sirius hadn't come back. That thought had me biting the inside of my cheek hard as Lily began to speak with a nervous twang to her voice.
"He wants you to play with him, Remus." she explained quietly before gaining her composure. "Humor me, would you." I rolled my eyes at her and she absolutely beamed at seeing such a normal response from me. I'd just given in during my first few days here. I was worse back then and pretty much did whatever I was told while I mentally isolated myself. I guess I just needed to act normal for a bit. Sure, I was still a mess on the inside. But hey, if it got Lily and James off my back I was willing to do just about anything. Especially considering I had a mission coming up that night.
"He's your son." I countered, though I was already sitting down next to the boy on the floor. A few of my joints cracked and complained at the motion and I sent a silent glare toward my knees and cursed the moon. Having your body practically tear itself apart and pull back together twice a month did nothing to help you there. (stupid concept of having to change to and from a wolf)
James started to laugh at my submissive act and I merely gave him a slight glare. He scowled in turn but I could see the smile in his eyes. Of course we then had to cue the laughter as Harry threw an alphabet block at my head.
I was more than glad of the small things like tea breaks and baby bedtimes between play with Harry time. Though the dawn of this new era brought about question Remus time. I was not pleased to find myself sitting in the armchair across where my bag still sat with Lily on the couch and James blocking the exit.
"Why are you all packed up, Remus? Did Albus give you a mission?" way to be blunt Lily! I didn't offer her anything more than a nod before she was on her feet. "And you accepted?" another nod. "Are you sure you're okay with going?" My neck was starting to hurt from all this nodding. I'd never been big on twenty questions either. I was lucky when James intervened before she could speak again.
"We aren't his parents, Lily-flower." he'd come up behind her and wrapped his arms around her stomach and it was more clear than ever that James and Sirius had swapped tips on how to get your partner to agree with you on something. That move had just been used one too many times when I hadn't wanted to go to the parties Sirius' co-workers hosted every once in awhile. The thought almost made me want to get sick again but I refrained as Lily began to answer.
"I know that." she turned to look at me, her emerald green eyes trying to burn holes through my own yelled ones. "You be careful. I won't stand for losing both you and Sirius."
I managed a weak smile at the name. "I'm always careful Lily." she rolled her eyes and shook her head. I glanced at the clock. "And now I have to go. I should be back in about two weeks." I knew the look in James' eyes well. That meant I'd be gone through the moon and he knew it. I answered his unasked question. "I won't need to worry about being a werewolf where I'm going. Don't worry about me." His eyes questioned but he soon realized I either didn't intend to or couldn't tell him. He simply nodded and I stood to grab my bag.
I wasn't even a step toward the fireplace to use the floo when James and Lily had both come up and wrapped me in a group hug. I hugged back. Who knew, I could be just like Sirius and never return.
Pulling away after a glance over James' shoulder and at the clock, I gave them a slight nod before heading toward the fire again. They didn't stop me at all this time as I grabbed a bit of powder from a container on the mantle and threw it in. Casting a look over my shoulder I had to say something. "See you guys later."
Lily scowled at me playfully and answered first. "Oh you better Mr. Lupin." I gave her a weak grin and she seemed satisfied. James was looking at me thoughtfully though.
"I'll hold you to that Remus."
I spared a glance at the flames and found they had turned bright green and were waiting for me to step in. I soon did and said my destination in as clear a voice I could with disturbed ash settling around me. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office." as my surroundings began to spin I wondered just what James had meant with that statement. Holding me to coming back? Knowing him, it could mean close to anything.
-xxx-
"So the soonest I can see him is three days after the full moon?" I asked as one of my hands absently ran through my hair. I glanced away from the huts below and toward my guide whom had been the one to show me around and introduce me to everyone. He'd gone so far as to bring us to our current spot on a small hill over-looking the pack's village. He'd also been the one to tell me this when I'd first got here but it was only now that I decided to question him.
"He's a busy man. Brilliant, but busy. I'm sure you understand." I nodded absently and let my fingers interlace and pull apart robotically as my thoughts shifted. It wasn't odd at all (at least to me) that little things like sitting in the grass could remind me of Sirius. Most everything did nowadays. It was only my second day down here in the village and already I'd been having trouble concentrating fully on the mission. With thoughts of Sirius aside, I was still wondering just what kind of prisoner they'd locked up in that hut. I'd seen numerous numbers of men coming to and from the place and not many of them seemed to be taking food or water. Beyond that, they usually came out disheveled and smelling overwhelmingly of sex. I hadn't been able to hide my shudders of disgust every time, but my guide seemed to think nothing of it.
-xxx-
"Ah, Remus." I looked over at the headmaster and offered the old wizard an inclination of my head as a greeting. He smiled at me and gestured toward a chair across from him which I quickly took. We were alone among the bits and bobs around us. Well, unless you counted Fawkes who was sleeping. "You'll be going here." He pointed to a dot covering an area on the map he held and I nodded before taking the map from him. "I believe you know what to do, yes?"
"Yeah Albus. If anything goes wrong I'll contact you. If I can." I can be blunt too. We both knew I was referring to Sirius anyway. Everything just has a way of relating back to the young Black. My one track mind could really not be helped.
"Try to use very little magic while you're there. We can't be frightening the pack now." I only offered a nod and I could tell Albus was disappointed.
"Alright then," I muttered and he gave a light grin. "I guess I'll be going. The sooner I'm gone the sooner I'm back." It was his turn to nod as I stood up. "I'll be seeing you then."
"Of course, Remus."
With his response I promptly walked back to the fire and flooed to the Hogs Head. The pub that the headmaster's brother worked at had always been as good a place as any to floo to quick when you'd be needing to aparate. The closest I could aparate was just outside a small town about ten miles away from my destination. Guess it was time to get hiking.
-xxx-
My first week was spent hiking to and observing the little village the werewolves had made for themselves. Many times I knew someone had seen me (or smelled me for that matter) but not once was I approached while I tried to come up with the best way to introduce myself. I knew better than to use my real name and already had one picked out. I'd go by Romulus as the name had a history of being linked to my own. It was a rather interesting story that I remembered reading many times over my school days.
As the second week came, I ventured closer to the village and stood at the edge. From what I knew from other Order missions like this, I needed to merely wait a minute and I would be questioned by guards. Not a hard concept at all. Sure enough, a few of the men stepped forward.
"Who are you?" the first one asked, giving me a mistrusting stare. I tilted my head slightly to the side before responding.
"Romulus. I've come to bring a message to your Alpha." I watched a few of their faces. Some were surprised and others seemed to be considering the idea. I didn't really get an answer before a second werewolf decided he needed to speak.
"He's very busy, but he could see you three days after the full moon." I glanced toward the man that had spoken and nodded thoughtfully.
"If you would all be so kind," I offered politely. No need to get myself in trouble now. Needless to say I was surprised when the same man that had given me a date replied.
"Hey, us werewolves got ta' stick together you know." he winked and the rest laughed as the atmosphere got decidedly more comfortable.
-xxx-
After a short while chatting with the guards the one that had voiced I was a werewolf first was posted as my guide. He was quite nice about showing me around and introducing me to everyone. He named off a few facts about some of the huts we passed. I remained attentive. This information would be important later on.
"So that's where I'll be sleeping?" I asked as we passed one hut. My guide nodded and I offered him a small smile back as he pointed toward another building.
"That's where we keep our prisoner. Not that anyone's come to claim him."
"The what?" I was rather shocked to hear news that they actually kept a prisoner about and couldn't stop my exclamation.
"The prisoner. I mean, honestly Romulus! Us werewolves have got ta' stick up for ourselves somehow."
I hope that wasn't too bad... Anyway, I need to type the next chapter for Torn Between Ties and then I promise to get to chapter three of this.