Remus considered Grimmauld Place to be his home more than he did his cosy but lonely cottage. He'd spent summer there last year, after the attack on his cottage, and had spent the holidays – when he wasn't required to be at school – there as well. And, while Remus wasn't protected by the Fidelius charm the way that Sirius and Harry were, Grimmauld still had some of the best warding outside the Ministry, Gringotts and Hogwarts.
Dumbledore had requested that he stay there for the summer as well, in the interest of keeping him intact until the school year began. Remus hadn't understood that, but Dumbledore had said something about a curse, and then hadn't elaborated, because he feared a self-fulfilling prophecy. Remus had decided to trust that Dumbledore had good reasons for requesting such things and had gone along with it.
As such, Remus no longer rang the doorbell when he arrived, nor did he send his owl Strix, requesting permission to Floo over. In fact, Sirius had given him a key at the beginning of the summer break, which, thanks to wands, was more formality than anything else.
Remus stepped over the creaky floorboard behind the front door, out of habit, and hung his cloak up on the hooks in the hallway. He could smell lunch cooking downstairs, and he could hear thumping upstairs. While it sounded like it was a rampaging hippogriff, Remus knew it was more likely to be Sirius and Harry.
Despite the news Dora had given him the day before, and the full moon – which was only a night away and certainly not helping matters - Remus felt a smile tug at his lips and swung himself up the first few stairs.
The source of the noise became quickly apparent; Remus had only made it to the second floor when a black, furry shape tore out of the library, with a larger, shaggier black shape close behind it. Without slowing, Padfoot made a soft barking noise that sounded like a greeting.
"What did he do?" Remus called after them.
With all the ease of experience, Sirius changed back into his human form, mid-step. Harry, once he realised he was no longer being chased, trotted over to Remus, tail wagging, and changed back, though with less grace than Sirius had demonstrated.
"Nothing," Harry said, grinning. "Just stretching our legs before tomorrow night." Sirius, who'd been grinning as well, glanced at Remus, and his smile faded.
"Not this one," Remus said tiredly. "I think it might be- A difficult one, even with the potion." Sirius shot him a sharp look and Remus pretended not to see it.
"Then I can help," Harry insisted, oblivious to that exchange. "I've had loads of practice," Harry said, before Sirius could finish. "And I'm a bit bigger now-" That at least, was true; Harry had grown a few inches since school finished, though he was still small compared to Padfoot and Moony.
"You can still run straight under me," Sirius pointed out, echoing Remus' thoughts. "And Moony's even taller."
"I appreciate that you want to help," Remus said, and he did; with Dora leaving soon, he'd take what company he could. "But this isn't the one to start with. Please trust me on that."
"The next one's going to be back at Hogwarts," Harry pointed out, scowling.
"And as long as you don't get caught sneaking down to the forest, I don't see that being a problem," Sirius said.
"And have your homework done," Remus added. Harry and Sirius gave him identical, revolted looks, and then grinned at each other. All three of them jumped as Kreacher popped into being beside Harry, and bowed, passing him a thick envelope with his name on it.
"Kreacher can go back in the morning," Kreacher told him, and Harry nodded eagerly and excused himself. Kreacher vanished before either of them could say anything.
"What in Merlin's name-?" Remus asked, looking at Sirius, and Harry's footsteps thudded on the stairs above them.
"Perhaps Harry's forgotten we have two owls in the house." Sirius didn't seem overly concerned, however, just a bit confused; his attention was on Remus. "Everything all right?"
"I was thinking I might lie down before dinner," Remus said, shrugging. "I'm starting to feel the moon." Sirius pursed his lips, but didn't say anything else.
Odd, Remus thought, frowning.
"Is Marlene here for dinner tonight?" Remus asked.
"She's doing one of those stupid raids," Sirius sighed. Following the death of Saul Croaker in the Department of Mysteries, Fudge had set the Auror Department to investigating all Ministry personnel and Ministry associates for association with dark magic. Sirius had said – more than once – over dinners that summer, that he thought it was a waste of time and money. "Said she might stop by later, though." Sirius cocked his head. "Are we expecting Dora?"
"No," Remus said, and then wondered why his voice sounded so defensive. He cleared his throat. "She had other things to do."
Sirius snorted, and left Remus alone on the landing.
"Next time," Padfoot said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I promise."
"All right," Harry muttered. He was disappointed, but Padfoot had agreed he could have Ron over – since Hermione was staying with her grandfather in Norfolk, and Draco was confined to Malfoy Manor – to keep him company while Padfoot and Moony were gone.
"Hurry up, Sirius!" Moony snarled from downstairs. Ron, who was lounging in Harry's desk chair, didn't appear to hear it, but Harry did, and so did Padfoot, who chuckled. "Stop laughing, you sadistic git!" Padfoot sniggered – very quietly - and Harry could hear Moony stomping around downstairs. A glance out the window at the moon told Harry that Moony's transformation wouldn't be for another hour and a bit, so they still had plenty of time, but Moony usually like to be settled at his cottage by then.
"We'll be back in the morning," Padfoot said, taking a step toward the door.
"Finally!"
"Keep your hair on, Moony," Padfoot called out the door.
"Why?" came the scathing reply. "In about an hour I'll grow more hair than I know what to do with! And claws, Padfoot, which I will tear you apart with if you don't bloody hurry up!" Padfoot laughed, and Ron, who it seemed had been able to hear that last bit, didn't seem to know what to make of the situation. Harry just shrugged at him. "Padfoot, I swear to- Ow!"
"Master Moony ought to know better," Harry heard Kreacher hiss. "What sort of example is he setting, for Master Harry and Mister Weasley? Kreacher only hopes Master Moony doesn't carry on like this at school, oh yes, he does hope!"
"I'd better save him, I suppose," Padfoot said wryly.
"Who?" Harry asked. "Kreacher or Moony?"
"Not sure yet," Padfoot said. "I suppose I'll find out when I get downstairs."
"I got a letter from Draco yesterday," Harry said to Ron, as Padfoot left.
"What did it say?" Ron asked, looking interested. They'd had three letters from Draco that summer; the first had been smuggled out by Tonks, when she and Auror Prewett did one of the Ministry raids on the Manor, explaining that Dobby had been ordered to stop any owls going to or from Draco.
The second letter had come a few days after Harry's birthday, and contained letters for Harry to send on to Ron and Hermione, as well as a letter and a present for Harry. Draco had given him the biography of Fulbert the Fearful – a wizard famous for being too afraid to ever leave his house – in the hopes that Harry might "at the very least learn that caution is a real thing", as well as a box of chocolate frogs.
The third, like the second, had contained letters for Harry, as well as letters to send on to Ron and Hermione, but yesterday's had only contained a letter to Harry.
Harry reached for the letter, which was on his bedside table, and read it aloud to Ron.
"Potter,
Yes, I'm well enough, I suppose. Granger's been recommending books for me to read, and Weasley's last letter had a funny story about his brothers and a gnome. I spent a day with Severus earlier this week, which was nice.
I'm glad there's only a week and a bit until we go back, and no, I don't think it will be possible for me to come and stay before term starts. Thank you for the offer though.
If Dobby knew I was writing this, I'm sure he'd want to send his greetings, so here they are.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I'll see you on the train, Potter.
Draco.
Tell Weasley and Granger I say hello, but that I can't write; I think I can hear Mother coming upstairs, and I don't want her to catch Kreacher!
"I know he's his godfather and everything," Ron said, "but imagine spending the day with Snape." Harry, who'd stayed in Snape's office one night several years ago – after Snape decided Padfoot was an unfit guardian and kidnapped Harry – could easily imagine such a thing, and shivered. "What do you think?"
"About Snape?" Harry asked.
"About the letter," Ron said patiently. "Do you reckon he's all right?"
"Hard to tell," Harry said. "I wish we could just ask him outright. Then, if he's happy he can stay, but if he's not, he can stay here for a day or two."
"Maybe Kreacher could take us over?" Ron suggested.
"The wards won't recognise a house elf coming in," Harry said, shaking his head, "but they'd recognise you, and I don't think Mr Malfoy would-"
"Right," Ron said, looking slightly queasy at the idea of facing Mr Malfoy. "Why not you?"
"I lived there for a week, before Padfoot's trial, and Mr Malfoy had me in the wards," Harry said. "He might have undone that, but he was convinced I was going to live there, so, yeah, I might be able to get in."
"You should go, then," Ron said.
"But you want to see him too," Harry said. "We'll go together, somehow." Ron grinned, and Harry grinned back, but then started to think. "They have wards on their Floo," Harry said, sighing, "so that won't work, and I don't know how to make Portkeys." Ron shook his head, to say that he didn't either. "I could get Padfoot to organise a raid tomorrow," Harry said thoughtfully, "and see if he could take us along."
"Would he?" Ron asked, hopefully.
"Probably not," Harry admitted. Padfoot would take them if it wasn't a raid, but Harry knew Mr Malfoy wouldn't let them onto the grounds, and that Padfoot couldn't be there if they tried to sneak in; Mr Malfoy would probably make sure it cost Padfoot his job, otherwise. "There's always his bike, but I don't know how to drive it, and I think he'd probably- Ron?"
"Harry," Ron said, eyes wide, "I have an idea."
"One foot after the other," Sirius said, "that's the way, Moony." Remus groaned, but managed to stay upright as Sirius guided – or rather, dragged – him out of the fireplace. "Now, stairs, or a hover-"
"Walk," Moony managed hoarsely. He mumbled something else, that even Sirius, with his years of experience interpreting Remus-post-moon could only understand "hover" and "be sick".
Kreacher popped into the kitchen at that moment, probably intending to start breakfast. Remus swayed and covered his ears against the noise of apparition. Kreacher bowed to both of them, and then hurried forward to help Sirius get Remus up the stairs. It was then, that whispers caught his attention, and then Sirius heard footsteps.
"Padfoot," Harry said, appearing with Ron at the top of the stairs. "Hi, Moony." Remus mumbled something that might have been a greeting.
"Where are you off to?" Sirius asked, noticing the rucksack on Harry's shoulder.
"The Burrow," Harry said, with a sideways look at Ron, who smelled nervous.
Sirius opened his mouth to ask him what exactly they were intending to do when they got to the Burrow – he could smell Harry hadn't been lying about that – when the doorbell chimed through the house. Remus winced, and sagged. Kreacher struggled with him for a moment, but Remus had snatched his arm away to block his ears, and Kreacher gave up and went to answer the door.
"Is it all right if Draco stays over tonight?" Harry asked, helping Sirius drag Remus back to his feet.
"He's coming over?" Sirius asked, surprised; last he'd heard, Draco wasn't even supposed to write to Harry.
"Maybe," Harry said, with an odd look on his face.
"Of course he can, kiddo," Sirius said, trying to work out what Harry was thinking. Unfortunately, his expression scrunched up as Moony sank back to the ground, and Sirius couldn't read it any more. Ron hurried forward to help too.
"It's Professor Snape," a snide voice said from the door, "not Mister Snape."
"Kreacher apologises," Sirius heard Kreacher say.
"Indeed. Is Black ab-" Sirius looked up and saw that Snape had just spotted them; Remus draped over Sirius, semi-conscious, and Harry and Ron headed for the kitchen to Floo out. "Black," Snape said flatly, eyeing Remus with distaste. Thankfully, though, he didn't comment.
"I take it you've got a reason for being here?" Sirius asked. "Harry, could you-" Harry returned to lift Remus' other side, and Ron hovered at the top of the stairs, obviously not sure whether he was meant to help or not.
"I thought Potter might want a visitor," Snape said, and Draco's blond head peeked around the front doorframe, taking in the odd scene before him.
"Malfoy?!" Ron said bemusedly, and Harry made an odd noise from under Remus' arm. Draco stepped into the hallway, looking nervous, but relaxed when Snape ushered him inside, and Ron hurried over to him, asking questions.
"I was going to ask if you'd be willing to let him stay for the night," Snape said, "but it appears you have your hands full as it is." His dark eyes drifted over Remus.
"Literally," Draco added, his attention also on Remus.
"Of course he can stay," Sirius said. "Harry already said he would be-" Ron choked on what sounded like a laugh, and Harry shrank as both Snape and Draco turned to stare at him.
"How did you know?" Draco demanded. "I didn't even know until this morning-"
"I would also like to know," Snape drawled, and a guilty smell started to rise off Harry. Ron continued to snigger, at least until Snape turned to him and said, "Well, Weasley?"
"Kreacher, can you put Moony to bed, please? I'll be up in a minute or two." Sirius continued to support Remus, but didn't hold him, and when Kreacher and Remus vanished, Sirius was left rubbing the shoulder that Remus had been leaning on.
"Tea, Snape? Or breakfast?"
"Tea," Snape said. He limped into the hallway and closed the door. Sirius glanced at his leg. No longer was it the flesh-toned one with the clunky foot he'd been given at St Mungo's. Whatever he was using now let him wear a shoe, though he still walked awkwardly.
"Is Draco going to the Burrow with you?" Sirius asked Harry.
"No, we're staying here now," Harry said, as he and Ron ushered Draco back upstairs. "We'll be down in a bit for breakfast!"
Draco didn't know whether to be touched, or mortified at the lengths that Potter and Weasley had intended to go to, to visit him. And, almost an hour after they'd sat down in Potter's room and told him through laughter and – if Draco wasn't wrong – slight disappointment, what they'd planned to do before Draco had shown up, he still hadn't decided.
He'd recovered enough, though, from his bemusement, to form questions.
"Weasley, why do you even have a flying-"
"Shh!" Potter hissed, tilting his head at the stairs that led down to the kitchen. Draco wasn't sure if it was Black, or Severus that he wanted to keep their now-unnecessary plan from, but fell silent anyway.
"-condition?"
"He's alive," Draco heard Black reply. From his tone, Draco thought he might have shrugged. "Beyond that, I dunno. I've cut him off from the Ministry, and Gringotts-"
"Good," Severus replied.
"But I don't want to alienate him entirely," Black continued. "That seems… cruel."
"I doubt you'd feel the same if it was you that he'd maimed," Severus replied. There was silence, which Draco, Potter and Weasley filled by coming down the stairs. Lupin was there, staring into a cup of steaming tea, and looking rather the worse for wear, though better than he had when Draco had arrived. Black looked up from his conversation with Severus and then went back to it.
"I was thinking about trying to find him a job," Black said.
"A job?" Severus asked flatly, while Potter fetched juice, and Kreacher shooed Draco and Weasley into chairs.
"Who are they talking about?" Weasley asked.
"I don't know," Draco muttered back. Black glanced in their direction, and Draco knew he'd heard them, but didn't seem inclined to stop talking.
"-keep him locked up, we're no better than Voldemort-" Weasley twitched, and Draco sat very still. Potter glanced over his shoulder, apparently interested, and then went back to finding glasses. "-was to him. If we give him a job, that's something that he owes us-"
"He already owes us plenty," Severus said. "Without our interference-"
"I know," Black said patiently, "but how long do you think he's going to sit and brood? I think Dumbledore knew what he was doing, giving him time to think, but if he's there too long, he'll either become desensitised, or the guilt will drive him mad."
"Speaking from experience, Black?" Severus drawled.
"I did spent some time in Azkaban," he said, rather coolly. Silence fell between the adults again, broken only by the chink of Lupin's teaspoon on the glass of the sugarpot.
"This job?" Severus asked, finally, and if Draco hadn't known better, he'd have thought it was some sort of odd apology. Severus never apologised though.
"I have a friend that works in Knockturn Alley," Black said. "I was going to talk to her when we go to get Harry's school things."
Potter set a glass of juice down in front of Draco, and then flopped into the seat beside Weasley.
"And you're asking me?" Severus said.
"I'd rather not make these sorts of decision alone."
"Gryffindors," Severus muttered, sounding… well, not disgusted, but near to it. Weasley sniggered, as did Potter. Black's expression twisted, in an obvious attempt not to laugh, and even Lupin let out a rattly chuckle. "What?" Severus snapped, and then his eyes landed on Draco, wedged between Potter and Weasley.
"What's wrong with Gryffindors, sir?" Draco asked, taking great care to keep his expression blank.
"She told you, then?" Andy asked, looking at Remus, who was standing on the Tonkses doorstep, shielding his face from the sun with one hand. Her expression was odd; proud, and she had every reason to be with Dora's impending training, relieved, because, despite being less prejudiced than her family, dating a werewolf wasn't exactly what Andy would want for her only daughter, and wary, as if she expected Remus to start shouting that Dora couldn't go.
"She did," Remus agreed. "Is she here?"
"Nymphadora!" Andy called over her shoulder, instead of answering. Remus heard Dora growl from her bedroom, and then stomping footsteps. Her face brightened when she saw him standing there, though, and Remus felt a smile tug at his mouth.
"Oh, excellent," she said. "I was about to head over to Grimmauld… I didn't think you'd be up and about today. How are you feeling?" Dora grabbed his hand and towed him toward her room.
"I've been better," Remus said tiredly, looking around. Only half of her wardrobe was strewn on the floor; the rest was sticking out of her trunk, which was open on the desk.
"Well, hopefully you're doing better by Monday," she said. "It was a complete pain, but I've organised a portkey for us, so you can help me move some of my stuff into the new place, and then I thought we could have a bit of a wander around, get to know the area and all- Are you okay?" she asked.
"I just said I've been better," Remus reminded her, arching an eyebrow.
"That's not what I mean," she huffed. Canis, Dora's rather nasty cat, wandered out from under her bed, bit Remus on the ankle, and then tore out of the room. "Mum said I have to take him with me," Dora said gloomily.
"What do you mean?" Remus said, bringing her attention back to whatever she'd been trying to say before.
"I mean… and I'm not complaining!" she added hastily. "But- I thought you'd have wanted to talk about this more. I thought you'd- I dunno, want to sort out logistics of visiting, and what not-"
"There's nothing to discuss," Remus said, shrugging.
"Nothing at all?" she asked, her hair turning orange. Remus didn't know if it was confusion, or building anger, or something else. "You're completely happy with the fact that I'm moving to France, and that we won't just be able to Apparate or Floo to see each other?"
"I thought you wanted to go?" he said, puzzled.
"I do!" she cried. "I just- I can't believe that you haven't said one thing against it! Even I've had second thoughts!"
"Dora," Remus said gently, taking her hands. "Did you really think I would be anything but supportive? If this is something you'd like to do, then I won't hold you back. It was always going to be like this."
"I was always going to go to France to study under the world's best Aurors?" she asked flatly.
"No," Remus said, chuckling. "Not that exactly. But you were always going to move onto bigger and better things. You're young and extremely talented, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that."
"That's sweet," Dora said, smiling at him, while her hair turned pale pink with embarrassment. Remus could feel his hands growing clammy in hers.
"And it's for exactly that reason, that I think this is it," Remus said. Her hands twitched, and she looked up at him, frowning.
"It?" she asked, in a very calm voice. Her hair hadn't changed colour at all, but Remus thought that was due to a conscious effort on her part.
"Us, Dora," he sighed. "I'll only be holding you back… I can't afford to buy an international portkey every other week, and once Hogwarts starts again, I won't have time, and if you're coming back here at every opportunity, then you won't be properly focused on-"
"On my studies," she said coolly. "Right." Her hair still hadn't changed colour, and it was starting to unnerve Remus. "Fine. You can go then." Her voice caught, ever so slightly. "I need to pack." Remus stared at her. He was pleased that she wasn't arguing the point, but it was so unlike her not to. "Are you expecting me to ask you to change your mind?" she asked.
"It wouldn't have been unexpected," he admitted. "But I'm glad you understand-"
"Oh, I understand," she said, and her voice shook, and just like that, her hair shaped itself into angry red spikes. "I understand, that for all you say that I'm talented, nothing I say or do, will ever be enough to convince you that you're actually worth something." She wasn't shouting, but she was shaking. Her eyes were very dark, and her lips redder than usual. Remus half-expected her to grow claws. "Except now, it's not just you that you don't care about, it's me-"
"I care about you-" Remus said, stricken that she could think that.
"If you did," she said, "then you'd either have begged me to turn the position down, or you'd be telling me that we can make this work. Instead you told me goodbye. I want this- I want- us. But if you're not prepared treat it like it matters, and to fight to keep it, then why the hell should I?"
"Dora," Remus said, feeling his heart clench.
"Go, Remus," she said, and her voice was so flat and cold, that Remus wouldn't have believed it was her voice if he hadn't seen her speaking. "I'm sick of forcing you to stick around when you'd clearly rather be elsewhere."
Remus closed his eyes briefly, and left.
Hi again!
Firstly, I'd like to say thank you to everyone; the first chapter has had a really positive response so far, and I'm excited about this story... I have some fun things planned!
Secondly, I'd like to say I'm really, really sorry to say that there will be a bit of a wait between this chapter and the next one, because I'm going away. Once we hit mid-January, updates will be back to their regular, once a week timing, but until then, they'll be a bit more spaced out, so I'm sorry for that!
Sorry to do this to you all, so soon after coming back from a writing break! The next update should be up by Christmas, so please bear with me!
MarauderLover7. :)