To Try Again
Chapter 2 - Enter the Potions Apprentice
He shouldn't have been awed when the scenery changed so drastically. The cold room that Sirius was encased in was cold and metallic grey. The young man was curled up in a corner. Looking so lost that it physically hurt to watch him.
Severus Snape didn't like Sirius Black, nor his friends. But he would have given anything to have more friends like that, though he never mentioned Lily. She understood, of course she didn't like it, she had no problems being friends with a Slytherin. But, he would have huge problems if he were friends with a Gryffindor.
However, after that run in with Lupin on the Full Moon night of three years ago; he and Sirius had come to terms in their relationship, they had kept it on the down low - but the war had driven a stake through what they could have had.
"Black?" Severus said in a monotone.
"Snape, fancy seeing you here," Sirius looked up, the devil-may-care-grin that he had given Severus didn't reach his eyes, which were devoid of all light, and hope. He hadn't been around any Dementors, which meant that Sirius felt his friends death heartily.
In his own way, Severus felt for the death of Lily, and Harry. The child that should have been his. They should have married, dated during their Hogwarts years. James Potter had poached. He stole the girl that, even now, Severus was madly in love with.
"I came because Mrs. Black asked me to come," Severus explained.
"Dear ol' Mum has a trick up her sleeve, does she?" Sirius asked. The grin disappeared and Severus could see a care worn Sirius Black in its wake.
"Where were you?" Severus asked.
"I can't tell you that, I really can't tell you anything," Sirius shrugged.
"What do you mean?" Severus took a seat in the one chair, which was bolted to the floor.
"Well, it's a funny thing. But do you ever get that feeling that you've forgotten something important, but when you try to remember you just get this horrible head ache and feel like you're about to explode?"
"A memory charm, and a strong one, if I should guess," Severus explained.
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I was with Dumbledore when I left for James and Lily. I was going to drop in for a few minutes, see Harry and leave. But Hagrid was there…" Sirius stopped. He bit his lip.
"Go on," Severus encouraged.
"Hagrid said that he couldn't find Harry, then Regulus told me, when he and my parents visited, that Harry was found dead in the crib, but…that doesn't make any sense at all," Sirius sighed wearily.
"Of course not," Severus agreed.
"Look, I know that you and I never got along, not till recently - but…I have to ask you something," Sirius glanced at the floor.
"I don't want to believe it,"
"No, it wasn't Pettigrew," Severus replied. Sirius blinked.
"It…wasn't…?"
"No, and I am not supposed to tell you anything either, but no one memory charmed me," Severus said. He cross his legs at the ankles and stretched them out.
"Wow…I thought for sure that Voldemort had found out…" Sirius muttered.
"There is a lot more going on than you know about," Severus said. He gave Sirius a look that said "don't ask".
"So what's going to happen now, it didn't sound as if I'd get a fair trial. Not that I think I could put up a good defense, I mean, I don't know exactly what I was doing before Dumbledore," Sirius lent against the wall.
"We'll think of something, no one is exactly happy with this scenario," Severus muttered.
"What, you believe me?" Sirius asked, he didn't think that any one would. Even his parents and Regulus believing him was a long shot. He had figured that they were helping him because of duty.
"Look, despite what you and your family with all that drama, they do care for you. That summer when you ran away, Mrs. Black was crying, and I have never seen her cry. But she refused to beg you to come back even though Regulus was ready to drag you back," Severus gave the other a hard stare.
"So believe it, we do believe that you'd never do that, especially to your best friend, a friend you've never gone against, ever!"
"Wow, Sev, I don't know what to say to that!" Sirius' small smile was all the reward Severus knew he'd get for that little speech.
"Lupin is here, he wants to speak to you," Severus said mildly. He got up from the chair.
* * *
Remus Lupin looked sickly, he was in need of a lie down to be sure. But, he had to make sure that Sirius was all right. Severus exited the room and held the door open for Lupin, who gave a nod and a quiet "Thank you" as he entered.
"Sirius!" Remus didn't smile, he didn't feel at all happy to see his best friend.
"Moony! Are you all right?" Sirius got up to take Remus into his arms. The Marauders had always taken care of Moony after the Full Moon. By helping him at his home, or bringing him food and sweets at Hogwarts.
"I'm fine, better than you, perhaps," Remus replied.
"Sit down before you fall down, Moony," Sirius gave his best smile. Remus felt like crying, but held it back just in time.
"Peter told me what had happened," Remus said, "I'm sorry, I…know you didn't do it, if that helps at all, but they won't take a Werewolves word for it," Remus shook his head, "I am the worst character witness for you,"
"It's all right, Moony," Sirius replied softly.
"So, Peter didn't give the secret, like I had thought?"
"He must have, but inadvertently, possibly someone he trusted, above everyone else," Remus replied.
"Of course we Marauder's knew, we always know each others secrets, this was someone outside our circle. I don't mean another student either, like Snape or someone…" Remus trailed off.
"A teacher, perhaps one of the Professors," Sirius muttered.
"Or someone who looked like a professor," Remus put in.
"Oh joy, this can't get any worse," Sirius sighed.
"They could give you the Dementors Kiss,"
"Did you have to point that out?" Sirius glared.
"Sorry, Padfoot," Remus gave an apologetic look.
"The problem now, is what are we going to do? If I'm in Azkaban…or worse…we still have Prongs, Lily and Harry's murderer out there,"
"I know, I had thought about going to Dumbledore but…" Remus stopped.
"You suspect him?"
"I know it sounds silly," Remus shook his head.
"It's all right,"
"But, we trust him with our lives, Padfoot, if he did do this, or have someone else do this…I don't want him to know that we know," Remus explained.
"I wouldn't either,"
"I'll try and find their killer, Sirius, but I'll need help, I don't think I shall find it from the Order, either,"
"I know, do what you can,"
"I am sorry," Remus whispered, he stood from the chair and this time it was he that gave Sirius a comforting hug.
"Marauders forever," Remus said.
"Friends forever," Sirius replied.
* * *
Mrs. Black was waiting for Remus as he stepped out of the holding cell. She gave the young man a once over look. Lupin didn't seem at all bothered by it, it was as if that happened to him all the time.
"Come with me," she said and turned. Lupin glanced at Mr. Black, Regulus and Severus who were chatting off to the side. Regulus gave a nod and Remus hurried after Mrs. Black.
"I am sure that you heard about the crimes the Ministry has directed towards my son," she said as they entered the elevator, no one followed them and so they were free to talk.
"Yes, ma'am, I did," Remus replied.
"What do you think?" she turned to him. Her eyes were the same grey as Sirius' . Remus felt that if Sirius had been born a girl, he would look exactly like this woman before him.
"Sirius would never do such a thing. He's headstrong, and reckless, but then so was James. They were perfect for each other. We all stood up for each other in our ways. Sirius with a pointed wand, James with a prank, me…I did my fair share of hexing, Peter wasn't the best with magic but he helped in his own way," Remus explained. They got off at the ground floor.
Mrs. Black took his arm and wrapped her own around his. They strode towards the cafeteria.
"You're the Werewolf?" she asked.
"Er - yes…"
"I had thought I heard Regulus and Severus talk about…that night when you almost killed Severus. It was partly his fault, he knew he shouldn't have been out of the Slytherin common room at that time of night, even if he had an inkling of what you lot were doing, that's why the Ministry never heard about it," she said. They were shown a table.
Mrs. Black ordered for both of them. When their waitress was gone she leaned back in her chair; "What does Dumbledore think?"
"He…he believes that Sirius, in a fit of rage, killed them," the 'them' was of course Lily, James and Harry Potter. But Remus didn't even want to say that in so many words. Walburga found this fact to be heartening. Remus Lupin, Werewolf, half-breed by Ministry standards, was so devoted to her son, a pure-blood, that he would be very careful of what he said and how he said it.
"I had suspected as much," she nodded.
"I don't know what else to say," Remus shook his head.
"It is fine, you just support my son however you can, that is all I ask," Walburga replied.
"I'd go to Azkaban myself, for Padfoot," Remus whispered. She pretended not to hear.
Their order came and they ate silently. When they were finished Remus insisted that he pay. He wouldn't take no arguments from her since that was what a gentleman did.
"Thank you," Walburga said. Remus nodded. Then he was gone into the throngs of witches and wizards.
* * *
Remus collapsed, bonelessly, into his easy chair. His flat was small, lit only by the fire, outside it was snowing and Muggles went their way as the Christmas Holiday quickly approached. He didn't understand why Christmas shopping was started so soon after Halloween. He figured it was the hype the industry put on it.
He refused to do any shopping till December. It had always annoyed him, the Christmas music playing all the time, and never different songs, but the same song, one version from every Muggle band, or so it seemed.
These thoughts kept him away from thinking of Sirius, for two parsecs. Then his thoughts came to Sirius and Azkaban and how Padfoot would need a warm cloak if he were to spend years in that prison. But he hadn't a warm cloak. He had left over cloaks from Hogwarts. He could mend those, and configure them into something nice and toasty. With a never ending warming spell on it.
Having a purpose in his dreary life. Remus went to dig out the cloaks.
* * *
A/N - Okay, there we go. More to come soon.