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French Twist:

4. Seek and Destroy

The Longbottom's had not escaped unscathed from the retaliatory attack against them, they had not been placed under Fidelius as Remus assumed but had instead opted to take care of their own security. Frank had paid for his hubris with his sanity, Bellatrix forcing Alice to watch as he and their son Neville were tortured with the Cruciatus Curse. Thankfully the Order (thanks to Sirius' warning) had arrived in time to save the two of them and Frank was currently in the long term spell damage ward at Saint Mungo's. They had taken too long attempting to get help from the Aurors who were overwhelmed with the End-of-the-War celebration.

They had been licking their wounds for a few days now and Remus had been keeping a suspicious eye on Peter. The events as described by Sirius were unbelievable and yet, his mind kept turning them over and over. He simply could not believe his friend could ever commit such an act of betrayal. However with the reality of the fact staring him in the face, it was obvious that someone had betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, and Peter's version of events was entirely too neat for his liking. Peter did not seem the type to rush to the Potter household knowing that the enemy could still be there, while it matched perfectly with Sirius nature. There was also the fact that every time he tried to make eye contact with the man he turned away.

Finally Remus could stand no more of the suspicion and waited for the opportunity to get Peter alone. He found him in the kitchen searching through the cupboard for something to eat. "Peter."

The man froze at his name and slowly turned around, fear shining from his eyes for a moment before pasting his most genial smile onto his rat-like face. "What can I do for you Remus?"

Remus' eyes narrowed a fraction at his reaction to something as simple as hearing his own name, "I think we need to talk Peter. I spoke with Sirius."

The rats eyes widened at that but he immediately tried to deflect the conversation, "You've spoken with that traitor? What are you doing talking to him? How are you talking with him?"

Remus took a step forward and watched as the hackles seemed to rise in the smaller man, "You know very well that we have enchanted mirrors, you have one yourself. He's been telling me some very odd stories you know."

"S-Stories?" Peter said with a gulp, "I..you know he would tell you anything to get you to believe him!"

"Indeed, but there are things that just don't seem to mesh with your own story and I find myself wondering, 'Why does Peter act like he's afraid someone will find out he has a deep dark secret?' Then I tell myself I must be imagining things and I come to confess my transgressions to you, only to have you confirm my suspicion. Tell me Pete, tell me again what happened that night?"

Remus took another step forward and Peter edged backward until he was caught in the corner, suddenly looking at the walls that were betraying him and looking for all the world like the caged rat that was his namesake. "M-m-moony! My friend! I don't underst-st-stand where this is coming from!"

"Just tell me, Peter, tell me how you knew the house had been attacked?"

"I.." he licked his lips nervously, "I've told you before, I was already there..."

Remus nodded, "Ah yes, and what were you doing at James' house at two in the morning?"

"Was it so late? I..we...that is we...were discussing the...uh...the wards! Yes we were discussing the wards and how to improve them!" His hand, unseen, was on the counter was searching for a weapon of some sort, finally landing on the flour container.

"That is really interesting Wormtail, seeing as how you nearly failed charms because you couldn't quite grasp Warding." he took another step toward the man, now nearly convinced of his suspicions. "And what happened next? How was it James was downstairs and you were upstairs...what was it? Hiding in the closet?"

Rather than an answer, Remus was hit in the head with the ceramic jar which shattered, flour exploded into the air obscuring the room and he felt the smaller man push him as he ran past. Remus would have reached out to grab him but he was too busy holding the gushing head wound to do much besides turn to watch the kitchen door open and the blur run outside.

Ignoring the pain and the blood he rushed out the door after the rat, thankful for the anti-apparation wards which extended over the building and for several meters in either direction. It was an empty restaurant the Order has appropriated as a base with an alleyway leading out onto a busy Muggle street. He chased the slower man down the alley praying he would reach him before he got to the edge of the wards. "WORMTAIL! Get back here you RAT!"

The man's wand came up and Remus rolled under a sickly looking yellow spell before springing back to his feet. The wolf in him was howling for blood and for once, Remus was all too inclined to let the wolf run. He quickly cast a Diffindo hoping to catch the rat in his leg and stop him but missed high thanks to his vision being obscured by the blood running down his face. The right sleeve of Peters shirt was ripped and covered his wand and the man began tugging at the offending clothing even as he ran. His suspicion was finally confirmed as Remus caught sight of the Dark Mark. "How could you Peter!" He shouted.

Peter gave up trying to remove he cloth and tried to cast another spell only for it to fizzle because he couldn't perform the proper wand work. Instead he kept running right past the edge of the wards and out into the street, cars were flying by honking their horns and Peter looked scared for his life with every one that past. His eyes were wide and nearly rolling in their sockets and he was foaming at the mouth after running as hard as he could. He turned to look at Remus who was standing with his wand at his side, wary of the Statute of Secrecy. "Me? ME? How could I have betrayed them? HOW COULD YOU BETRAY THEM! YOU AND SIRIUS BOTH!"

"What are you going on about traitor!" Remus shouted over the traffic, both men had attracted more than a few onlookers and traffic was slowing to a stop as the man refused to leave the middle of the street.

Peter laughed maniacally and pulled the sleeve off of his wand hand, pointing it at Remus. "YOU AND SIRIUS BETRAYED JAMES AND LILY! NOW YOU WANT TO KILL ME!"

"What?" Remus asked even as he saw the wand begin to move, recognizing the movement, "Peter NO!"

The wand came down as Peter shouted the incantation and the street erupted in an explosion, Remus had to turn away as a fireball came from the hole in the ground apparently having his a gas main. People and cars were flung in every direction from the blast radius and as Remus stood up he found several people looking his direction, holding what appeared to be some sort of weapon, and then several red-robed figured popped into being near by the blast site. His better sense took over. "Oh bugger me..." he said just before apparating away.

~~~==={{{+French+Twist+}}}===~~~

He'd tried to raise Sirius on the mirror twice now without a response, damn him for being so stubborn and, to be honest, intelligently cautious. He'd been running on foot, hiding out in coffee shops and bars, not daring to go home for fear they would be waiting for him in ambush. He'd obscured his face and gone to Diagon Alley last to find news and was unhappy but unsurprised to find his face on the front page of a special edition of the Daily Prophet next to Sirius' with the headline: "Two wanted for the murder of Potter Family."

Not knowing where else to go, and taking a leap of faith that he knew Sirius as well as he thought he did, he'd boarded a ferry for France not having the range to apparate and not wanting to chance being tracked via magical travel anyway. It had taken nearly all the money he had on his person not including the knuts and sickles in his pocket. He was halfway across the channel when his pocket warmed and he quickly looked around for a place to answer it. Finding the Head he closed the door and pulled the mirror out, "Answer".

"What do you think you're doing trying to call me over and over, I told you I'd call you when I was ready!"

"Sirius."

"Honestly, you think I'm stupid enough to let Dumbledore take your mirror and trace the connection somehow? I don't know that it could be done but if anyone could do it then it's probably him..."

"PADFOOT shut up!"

"Geez, whats got your knickers in a twist?"

"I'm in trouble Padfoot, you were right about the rat."

Sirius perked up at that, "I was? I mean I know I'm right about him, but what do you mean? Is my name clear now? Can I come back?"

Remus shook his head, "No... I waited til we were alone to confront him, in case I was wrong. But I backed him into a corner...quite literally."

The man in the mirror winced, "Bad idea, you should know better than to corner your prey like that, that's when they get dangerous."

"Yeah he hit me with a ceramic and got out while I was still reeling, I caught him with a cutting curse but it only shredded his sleeve. He has the Dark Mark Sirius! How could we not have known?"

"I don't know Moony...I don't know what to think anymore. But you saw his Dark Mark? So you can just tell Dumbledore and..."

"I'm wanted for his murder Sirius."

"Wait? You killed him? Not that I blame you but why'd you go and do that? It makes it that much harder for me to prove that..."

"NO! Damn you would you just shut up and listen for a second?" Sirius shut up and looked attentive and Remus felt momentarily guilty for shouting, "I chased him onto a Muggle street where he shouted about how both you and I betrayed the Potters and then he blew himself up taking half the street with him. The only witnesses were Muggles and when the Aurors showed up I knew I was screwed. As you so nicely pointed out the other day I'm a dark creature, they don't even have to give me a trial!"

"Bugger..." Sirius said quietly.

"That sums it up nicely, yes."

Sirius thought for a moment before deciding something, "Where are you?"

"On a ferry headed for France."

He quirked an eyebrow at that, "France? Really? What made you decide to head for France?"

Remus smiled, "I had to guess which direction you went."

Sirius sighed and nodded, "You guessed right, which port are you headed to?"

"Boulogne was the first available."

"What luck! You wait at the docks when you get here and I'll pick you up. It's damned poor circumstances but I'm really glad to have you back on my side Moony."

~~~==={{{+French+Twist+}}}===~~~

Remus walked off the gangway with the rest of the crowd trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. So it was with great surprise and no small amount of fear the he found himself being summoned violently into a janitors closet on the outside of a souvenir shop, and the door slamming behind him. He was struggling to find his wand at the same time he was attempting to untangle himself from several mops and a mop bucket in which he had somehow lodged a foot. Whoever it was that had captured him must have seen his search for his wand because next he knew his arms snapped to his sides and he found himself immobilized. He was still in a full panic right up until he heard the snickering and snapped his eyes toward the corner of the small room where he found Sirius doubled over and trying to laugh as silently as possible. There were tears running down his cheeks and he appeared to be having trouble breathing even as he waved his wand to right the mops and reversed the body bind.

"You find that funny do you?" Remus asked as his rump hit the floor and he tried to get up, only marginally more successfully than before in the cramped space. "Was that entirely necessary?"

Sirius was still having trouble breathing, "I...and you...hahaha...the look on your face as you flew in! The...The...The jig was up!" He continued laughing once he took a deep breath to prevent himself passing out.

Remus finally succeeded in righting himself and straightened his jacket, finding himself smiling despite all the worries on his mind. He pulled Sirius into a manly hug, "Thank you, I'm sure I did look quite the prat just then. I must say you are looking quite well for an outlaw."

Sirius smiled, "I try old man, you on the other hand look like boiled dog shite!"

Remus attempted once more to straighten his jacket, "I didn't have time to gather my belongings or change clothes before heading out of the country. You'll just have to forgive me for looking less than a hundred percent."

That sobered Sirius up some as he took a step back, "Yeah...bad business all around, and I'm sure it isn't about to get better with the rat dead."

The two of them were silent for a moment thinking of all that they'd lost in only a few days, finally Sirius broke the ice, "Well then, what say we head for my little slice of Paris and get you cleaned up?"

"Paris eh? You still had some contacts from your fifth and sixth years here?"

"Something like that yeah, now come along, grab my sleeve."

"Your going to side-along me? Last time I let you do that I was lucky you only splinched my shoe!"

"Oh come off it, I was 12!"

~~~==={{{+French+Twist+}}}===~~~

After apparating to the alleyway behind Monique's, Sirius lead him through the kitchen into the bar and toward the front door and the stairs. Remus tried not to stare at any of the girls, or the men they were entertaining, as they passed but he was getting more and more nervous as they headed up. At the second floor landing his suspicions were somewhat confirmed by a long low moan at the other end of the floor and at the top he felt the distinct feeling of an age line passing over him. Sirius led him to the end of the hall and opened the door to allow them entrance. On the couch was a woman in her mid twenties with brown hair and green eyes wearing medical scrubs. She looked up as they walked in and smiled at Sirius.

"So the mission was a success I see?"

Sirius nodded, "It was, thank you. I trust you had no problems?"

"Nope he was an angel, though he didn't stop asking about you. So this is the friend you spoke of?"

Sirius remembered his manners and pulled Remus into the room, "Remus Lupin this is Doctor Victoria Hensley, Victoria, Remus."

"A pleasure." Remus said nervously.

"The pleasure is mine I'm sure," She got up off the couch and adjusted her blouse, "Well I need to be getting back to my place. Tea later?"

"That sounds divine, thank you again."

She smiled at both of them as she pulled the door shut behind her and Remus arched an eyebrow in Sirius direction. "A doctor?"

"She works with children at a local hospital and she was available."

It suddenly caught up to him and his heart seemed to skip a beat, "You mean Harry IS with you?"

"MooMoo!" Screamed Harry as he toddled into the room carrying his stuffed wolf, "MooMoo!"

Remus found himself on his knees with two arms full of happy toddler, with tears running down his face. "Hey there cub!" He turned questioning eyes on Sirius.

"The rat was right about one thing, the nursery looked like Harry exploded but I found him with nothing worse than that scar over his eye."

Remus pulled Harry back and smiled as he pushed his hair to the side to look at the lightning bolt shaped scar, the toddler just smiled back at him, "What happened?"

Sirius shrugged as he sat down in the chair, "I can't be sure, but I'm guessing Dumbledore wasn't to far off. Lils..." He trailed off for a second and took a breath, the sadness being reflected in both their eyes, "Lils did something to protect him when Voldemort...when he..."

"I think I understand, Dumbledore said it was very old magic, that she likely sacrificed herself to protect him and when Voldemort tried to..." He trailed off as well, not wanting to dwell on what might have happened, "So Harry here somehow managed to kill the greatest Dark Lord in a century?"

"That's the long and short of it apparently, I took him with me...I don't know why I just couldn't leave him. I was all set to go after the rat when he called my name, next thing I knew we were here."

Remus turned back to Harry, "I'm very happy to see you cub," He smiled and got a smile in return, "you have no idea how happy I am."

"MooMoo!" Harry said and hit Remus upside the head with the stuffed toy.

Remus found himself laughing along with Harry and Sirius joined in, "Yes Harry, Moony is here now."

"MooMoo!"

"I am going to remember this in my speech when he's getting married. How Harry had me convinced you were a cow animagus!"

"Laugh it up Pafu! At least I'm not named after some silly sexual act."

"In a place like this that actually might not be a bad name..."

Remus sobered at that, "Yes Sirius, let us talk about how disturbing it is that you are hiding Harry out in a bordello of all places!"

"Hey, I didn't have a whole lot of choices, and if you noticed I already put up a nanny ward to keep him upstairs and away from all that. Besides it's just temporary I'm sure."

Remus stood up, taking Harry with him on his shoulder and walked over to the couch, sitting down and placing the toddler on his lap, "I assume there is a story behind this place?"

~~~==={{{+French+Twist+}}}===~~~

Monique had invited them to dinner in her quarters and they'd talked idly throughout until they finished with a dessert course. Now being satisfied and Harry playing quietly at the end of the table Monique looked to Sirius, "So there has been more news of you on the wireless," she turned to Remus who seemed to be pinned by her gaze for some reason, "and of you. It seems warrants have been issued for Sirius and a kill-on-sight order issued for Mister Lupin."

Victoria gasped, "Kill? How can they do that?"

Remus simply sighed and looked at her, "I'm afraid my...er...background means I have almost no rights, you could say they would put me down as a rabid animal."

"That's horrible! How can they do that to anyone! Are you a known criminal or something?"

Sirius looked to Monique with a questioning expression, "How much does she know?" He asked, indicating Victoria with a nod of his head.

Monique shrugged, "All of the girls know, I do believe the good doctor can be trusted to as well."

Sirius looked to Remus who shrugged his shoulders slightly, then turned to Victoria, "Doctor I'm about to tell you things that will be unbelievable and that must remain a complete secret."

"I thought I told you it's Victoria, and what secret can be so vital that you make it sound like life or death?"

Remus leaned forward, "You know that Harry's family was targeted by a mass murderer correct?" She nodded though she seemed slightly confused, "What you do not know is that Harry was actually the target, and that James and Lily were merely in the way."

Sirius picked up from there, "There are two worlds, there is your world, the normal world which we refer to as the Muggle world. Then there is the magical world."

"Magic? Like sleight of hand?"

Sirius shook his head and pulled his wand out, producing iridescent purple and gold butterflies and shimmering sparks. Victoria's breath caught in her throat as she gazed disbelievingly at the creatures fluttering around the room, Harry was laughing and trying to catch them. "Not stage magic," he continued, "REAL magic. There are witches and wizards living alongside Muggles in a world of our own, we have our own magical governments and there is a Statute of Secrecy that means we cannot let Muggles like yourself know we are here. I'm breaking many laws by telling you and demonstrating magic in front of you."

Remus nodded, "I have a magical affliction, I was bitten as a small boy and have lived most of my life as a werewolf."

She visibly leaned away from him at that, though apparently without thinking, "Wer-werewolf?"

Sirius picked up once again, "That is why he has no rights, in magical Britain werewolves are considered dark creatures and considered less than human. So while I am wanted for trial, he is quite literally in danger of being 'put down' as you might call it."

"I still don't understand, you say magic is real? And you two are..Wizards? What about Monique?"

The woman in question leaned forward, her bosom threatening to fall out of her blouse and Moony's eyes bugged just a bit. "I am what is called a Squib in our world, I was born to magical parents but have almost no magical ability at all. I might as well be a Muggle. This is why my family sold me to my old employer. To have a squib in the family is terribly embarrassing at best and to a well-known family, it is detrimental. I was raised in secret and when I was old enough they got what they could for me and wrote me off."

"I'm sorry but your magical world sounds barbaric!"

Remus nodded, "In some ways it is, in others...well we live rather peacefully with each other. There has not been a large scale magical war between nations in a millennium thanks to the Statute of Secrecy. Time was that magicals were both revered and hated by the Muggles. We were used to fight wars for a benefactor but when we seemed to be too powerful the people would turn on us. The burning of heretics and the Salem Witch Trials are only some of the atrocities committed against us. We pulled away as completely as we could and have hidden our world from yours ever since."

"And Harry?" She asked turning to the boy who had caught one of the butterflies and was examining it.

"Is the son of two very powerful magical people. James was a Pureblood wizard, his family has been entirely magical for as many generations as have been recorded. Lily was an extremely powerful Muggleborn witch."

"Muggleborn?"

"The daughter of two Muggles with no known magic in their family tree, born with the ability to use magic. There are many Purebloods who look down upon the Muggleborn and Halfbloods as something less pure, must the same way they consider Remus to be less than human. That is what the war in the UK was about." Sirius replied.

"Wait a war? I thought you said there hadn't been any magical wars for a thousand years?"

Remus sat back and sighed, "It wasn't so much a war as a terrorist organization targeting anyone who believed that Muggleborn deserved to have the same rights and opportunities as Purebloods. The powerful Purebloods, some of them, the so called 'Dark Families' joined Voldemort in trying to eliminate the impure in our society. The 'Light Families' fought back, but most of them were not willing to fight at all, and those that did, did not want to kill the terrorists. So for twenty years it has been a war of attrition, the magical population of the UK has been falling sharply as 'Dark Families' lose fathers and sons, the 'Light Families' have lost good men and women as well as entire families being eliminated for opposing Voldemort, and Muggleborn have been eliminated before they ever got to train in the magical arts or shortly after leaving school."

"In any case," Sirius said leaning forward, "Harry will most likely be a powerful wizard in his own right, he is considered a Halfblood having one Pureblood and one Muggleborn parent. There was a prophecy that said a certain person, born to certain people, would be the one to destroy Voldemort. Somehow he found out about the prophecy and it led him directly to Harry."

Remus smiled, "The bastard got what was coming to him though, somehow Harry destroyed that monster!"

"But James and Lils died in the process. I'm his Godfather, that's why he's with me...I found him after feeling the magical protections I'd help place on their house be destroyed. My family was one of the 'Dark Families' I was telling you about, though I assure you I do not hold with their ideals. That is why I was disowned and that is why I spent the last few years as all but a brother to James. When my own mother died I was not overly emotional, but it hurt deeply to see James' parents die in the war. The Potters are one of the pillars of the Light community and have been for centuries at least. Recognized by both the Magical Commonwealth and the English Crown as an Ancient and Noble house. Harry is all that's left of them. I knew if I stayed I'd likely not get much of a trial if any, and someone would try to use Harry to get at the Potters wealth or trade on his name to further the 'Greater Good'."

Remus looked at Sirius with stricken eyes having recognized that turn of phrase, "Now Sirius, surely you don't believe that Dumbledore of all people would have used Harry like that!"

"I don't know what to believe anymore Remus! We're both wanted for murder and the one man who should be on our side seems to have completely given over to mob mentality as far as I can tell. I wasn't going to take that chance!"

"Boys!" Monique cut across them sharply and nodded toward a stunned Victoria, "We have a guest who seems to be taking all of this rather badly."

Both had the good sense to look chagrined and apologized like children caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Victoria seemed to regain some of her senses and looked at Harry for a good while before speaking, "I suppose I shall just have to accept it at face value for the time being...you say Harry was exposed to high levels of lethal magic? I think I should take a look at him to be certain there is no lasting harm."

Monique smiled at her taking the revelation so well and turned to Sirius, "As for your legal problems, being in my line of business does have its rewards. Perhaps I can persuade some of my contacts to help smooth over your situation, and hide Harry's identity for the time being. As far as I am concerned you are welcome to stay here as long as is needed, indefinitely if you must. It is good to have you here Siri, and you as well Remus. I should think however, that you might want to speak to the Goblins about your funds before the government thinks to issue some sort of injunction no?"

Victoria's head swung around to stare at the three magicals, "Wait, Goblins?"

Authors Note: Pafu-Pafu is a massage where you are slapped and rubbed about the face by a woman's breasts. I am not really certain how old the term is, but shows up in Dragonball and many other Japanese references. (I didn't know that until I was looking to see if Pafu might have a funny meaning for MooMoo to throw back in Sirius' face. If not I was going to go with a Hawaiian theme, MooMoo and Pafu hehehe)