Disclaimer: If I owned either Harry Potter or Yu Yu Hakusho, I don't think I'd be sitting here writing fanfiction….

Notes: You people are NO HELP! Do you know I got eight votes for a friendship between Sirius/Lupin, eight votes for a pairing of Sirius/Lupin, and eight unidentified or "non" votes?!

AHHH!! What the heck?!

Okay, so this is how it's going to work, because my little voting strategy didn't really work out. My bad, but what are the chances?! Alright, so I'm going to go with the middle ground the best I possibly can:

Sirius and Lupin will not be defined as lovers, however, they did "love" each other. If you'd like to think of that Love as being best friends, that is perfectly acceptable. If you'd like to see it as love between two men, that's perfectly good as well. I will do my best to write it so that it can be seen either way.

-o-o-o-

Keeping Quiet

Chapter 6

Seals, Squeals, and Deals Pt II

-o-o-o-

Lupin watched as Hermione piled more and more books atop Kurama's arms – which seemed to have doubled from the last time Hermoine had done so to this time.

The werewolf watched as Hiei snuck a book off a shelf and slipped it onto the fox's stack, muttering a few words.

Wondering just how close a bond those two shared, he retraced the demon's earlier conversation with him…

-o-o-o-

Lupin awoke from his sleep that morning in less than elegant graces. The light knocking on his door had him nearly tumbling from the jumbled sheets which only tangled around him and conspired to drop his lethargic butt upon the floor.

Needless to say, it was not how he desired to awaken that particular day.

He stumbled across the room, trying to contain the yawn that sent a quick spasm down his body, between his muscle and skin. It raised little goose-bumps all along his form.

Something in the back of his mind perked up – something telling him it wasn't the yawn that had his skin react the way it did.

Heedless, he pried open the door, revealing himself to his early guest in naught but a pair of pants and a haphazardly pulled on robe that had seen better days.

However, when amber eyes beheld the particular guest which graced his presence far too soon for the day to begin, he suddenly wished he had taken a moment more to dress properly. He pulled his robe tightly around his thin frame as wide brown eyes met those of emerald green.

"C-can I help you?" he asked warily, trying to control his shaking a bit more. The goose-bumps had become more pronounced. His human nature was terrified by this prospective demon that stood before him.

His wolf side doubled its usual hidden presence – interest piqued at the demonic presence it had never been entitled to witness.

Lupin could feel a wave of disgust washing over him as his wolfish personality, buried deep within, stirred in a lustful manner. His counterpart wanted to play with the demon.

"Good morning, Mr. Lupin," Kurama whispered softly, his Japanese traditions coming out in the translation spell through that gently drawn out word he remembered was an honorific of the culture. "I apologize greatly for waking you so early, but I must request an audience with you.

"And….what for, Mr. Minamino?" the werewolf cautiously approached, wrapping his arms around him. It was meant to appear as confidence, but the wizened eyes of his guest easily saw the insecurity in the movement.

He was kind not to take advantage of it any more than he did.

"I am in need of your private council, sir," the redhead replied quietly, bowing his head slightly in the knowledge that this wizard could be a formidable enemy. "I…am aware of things we should discuss."

Lupin's blood froze in its respective veins, yet his heart seemed to double its pounding to compensate. "Wha-what?" he whispered slightly, his breath catching. He cursed the weakness of this, while his wolfish nature cursed his weakness in front of another of demonic nature.

Kurama's eyes seemed almost sympathetic to the shock they had caused the wizard. "I am aware of the knowledge your wolf's nature has given you about me," he replied easily, though cautiously, as if afraid to provoke the man.

Emerald eyes caught the hand that reached into his robe's pocket and he quickly raised a hand, no weapon in sight. "Please, Mr. Lupin," he began in an even softer voice. "I do not want to provoke a fight: bloodshed is not what I am interested in."

"What are you interested in?" Lupin demanded, his grip on his wand tight, though the weapon remained in his pocket. It was his defense, a threat to the demon before him, but a reserved one that remained hidden for now.

Kurama gave an almost sorrowful smile that appeared apologetic. "I merely wish to talk. I am in need of your council – as much as you are in need of mine."

He was overly polite, that much could not be denied. But he was a demon, and therefore, should not be underestimated or trusted in any manner.

However, it went against everything Lupin believed to simply turn someone down because of what they were.

He had gotten enough of that to last four lifetimes.

And besides, he could hear the soft whisperings of the wolf. 'Do not judge the demon too quickly', it was whispering. Lupin decided, after a moment's hesitation, to take the leap of faith offered to him.

So, however reluctantly, he agreed to meet the demon downstairs in little more than ten minutes – enough time for him to dress and splash a bit of water on his face. When he arrived at the base of the stairs, he found the redhead standing idly by the door to the dark House of Black. He was staring quietly out the curtained window, as if entranced by the grey weather of London outside.

He turned as Lupin's foot hit the dusty ground of the foyer, but Lupin would have the first word this time as he adjusted his black robes about his thin frail. "What was it you wished to talk about, Mr. Minamino?"

"Just Kurama, if you would. I feel far too old when you address me as you do," the redhead replied with a small smile. He was trying to relieve the tension obviously forming before the conversation had even begun. "And I would rather not discuss anything here, sir."

It was obvious to the werewolf that the demon had caught him in the act. He had been attempting to keep them within Grimmauld Place, to keep them where he would have backup. Where the others might happen to overhear the demon's confession of what he was.

He didn't want to face this alone. He was already alone in too many things.

"Very well," Lupin conceded and grabbed a heavy coat to wrap around himself. Since last school year's end he had found himself often cold and easily ailed and, in such trying times, he could not risk catching yet another sickness.

Kurama followed him with nothing more than the clothes he had arrived in. They had little the four guests could borrow: Hiei was far too small to fit in anyone's clothing, Kurama to lean, Kuwabara too tall.

Yusuke fit pretty well in Harry's clothing, especially since it was relatively baggy on Harry to begin with, so it fit his muscular form.

The redhead had politely declined clothing from the others, saying he would make do until they could buy new clothes themselves. He did, however, accept Lupin's offer of a jacket.

He wasn't sure whose but figured they could live without it for a while. It's not like anyone would mind – if they noticed any change, it would be in the slightly rose-tinted scent mixed with the hidden musk of an animal and the soft supple taste of pine that hinted on one's tongue.

Or so his wolf so happily described.

They walked quietly among the rather dreary neighborhood of England. It was grey outside, a cold and windy day that threatened rain and promised the miserable weather of a London summer.

Even though not in the city of magic, they were near enough to it to still have the wonderful weather the bleary city offered its occupants.

"I am sorry to have disturbed your sleep, sir," Kurama began after they had wandered some way in silence.

Lupin fidgeted. "If you get to request your name from me, I must do the same. 'Sir' makes me feel older than 'Mister'. does you, I am sure."

Kurama actually let out a small peel of laughter from that and it struck Lupin's ears as a ring of pure joy in life. He couldn't believe that such a thing came from a demon. "Very well, Mr. Lupin, if I may call you that."

"Much better, thank you," the werewolf consented as he randomly kicked a small pebble that lay in the road they walked. Kurama's green eyes traced the rock. Lupin gave a tired sigh as he realized the demon was awaiting his initial reply. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know what it is you wish to discuss, so lets get it over with, shall we?"

The laugh no longer rang through the air, but the amusement in his eyes was not missed. "Yes, of course. I am aware of what you are, Mr. Lupin, as you are aware of me, and that secret we both hold close. Neither you, nor I, is fully human."

Lupin glanced over at him somewhat nervously. "Then you are not fully demon?" he asked curiously. It had not occurred to him that the man before him might not be a full-fledged demon.

The wolf scoffed at the thought that Lupin had not listened to his detailed description of Kurama's scent. He had completely ignored the human aspects of it.

"No," Kurama admitted, not exactly happy about how much he had already acquiesced to tell about himself. But he knew that to gain the werewolf's trust, such sacrifices would be made. "I am half human – not too unlike yourself."

Lupin spared another glance in his direction. "You consider a werewolf demonic?"

Kurama nodded. "I do, indeed. They are descendents of full-blooded demons that passed their genes to humans through their unusual breeding habits."

"You mean biting," Lupin practically spat out and the demon could not blame him for his disgust in the race. Most demons looked down on werewolves, who were nothing but the result of generations of diluted demonic ancestry.

Kurama nodded his approval but continued with his prior objective. "I could smell your demonic blood probably at the same moment you were noticing mine. And I wish to discuss terms of keeping such a secret to yourself."

Lupin ground his teeth in a mixture of angry nervousness. "Why?"

There was a pause in Kurama's words before he responded, "Do you know what demons say about wizards, Mr. Lupin?" he asked quite suddenly, though his voice was quiet. Lupin merely gave a shake of his head. "They say that you are all snobbish; overly prideful and disgusting because of your own inferiority that is shadowed by the false superiority you embellish yourselves with…Do you think that is true of all wizards, Mr. Lupin?"

The werewolf blinked. Of course not! It was preposterous to label an entire population under one stereotype. "No," he replied calmer than his original thoughts. "I mean, there are some rotten witches and wizards, but most are not that way!"

"Exactly," came Kurama's calm reply, as if he expected such an answer all along. "There are some, Mr. Lupin."

There was a gentle smile in his voice. "Demons are not so different from wizards and humans – we gossip and badmouth just the same. As with humanity, the bad name falls not on the small number that truly deserves it, but the whole.

"I know the opinions of demons that you wizards spread with your tongues. We are slaves to bartered and murdered and nothing more. Disgusting creatures lower than you and viewed as animals incapable of emotion, intelligence, or kindness.

"Sure, there are demons you do not wish to cross – just as there are wizards with who you do not want to involve yourself. Many of my own kind I would gladly remove from the face of their world if only to lesson the disgust and inconvenience to me. However, that does not make me the wizards' stereotype," he concluded with a smirk, "just as I do not find you smug and snobbish."

Lupin paused to consider over the words he had just heard. He had had the chance to look at life in such a way, bullied as much as he was by those that believed his wolfish nature to be all that mattered in his personality. But he had never applied it to that of demons, and realized his initial mistake in believing the man before him was evil merely because he was demonic.

He relaxed somewhat as he realized that Kurama truly only wanted to protect himself from the wizarding community. "I see….and what would you say you were, then, Kurama?"

The fox gave a lower smile, as if he was holding a secret to himself. "I believe I am what I am. Like any human or wizard or demon, my personality is layered and not the reason I asked you from your bed."

Lupin's own humor could not ignore it and he gave a dry chuckle. "Alright, I am listening."

Kurama continued without hesitation, now that he knew the werewolf would listen without prior judgments already in mind. "As I said, you are aware of my demonic nature. Have you discussed it with your colleagues?"

It immediately put Lupin on guard again. "Will my answer determine my current life span?"

The sharp look he received from those piercing eyes – was that gold in them? – was enough to inform him he had spoken wrongly.

"Please, sir, you stereotype me once more." The demon sighed. "I have no desire to kill you. Unlike many of my kind that brought about such an assumption, I am no lover of bloodshed. I know the value of life and do not take it without true reason. No, I ask because I do not want to be killed myself – nor kept in a magical prison to be tested upon and later killed for transgressions I have not committed. Nor do I wish to be sold into servitude. If you would remember, sir, I am here not of my own will. I do not wish to be here, and I do not wish to lose my life by such events beyond my control."

Lupin was quite for a long moment. He knew that the weakest of demons were often enslaved – used in servitude to the houses of wizards and under experimentation to learn of their kind. While the torturing experiments had not been done in years, to his knowledge, they had been done before.

"I have not told the others," he confessed finally, "though they have suspicions of their own. Those masks you wore when summoned might have been ancient and nearly forgotten…but even the order knows they were not all meant to be worn by humans."

Kurama's expression was wry. "Well, two of them weren't."

His words were the very confirmation Lupin sought, and the werewolf immediately knew now just how strong a demon this man must be. "You know of the spell, then? I wasn't sure if you would…"

"Do not be mistaken," Kurama continued almost warily. "It is not common knowledge in the Demon World, either, taking into account just how old a spell it truly is. I have a…unique perspective on both the wizarding world and ancient treasures."

"So the others-"

"Do not know," Kurama finished. "And I wish it to remain as such, for now. If anyone is to tell them the full meaning of that spell, it will be me."

"You are close to them." It was not a question – Lupin could see the fondness in the demon's eyes.

Kurama nodded, his lips forming a thin line. "I did not lie to Dumbledore when I said we have known each other for some time," he replied almost lovingly. "They have always stood beside me, as I have to them. They have saved my life many times."

Lupin looked surprised at the affection that ran so deeply in those emerald orbs. "You would die for them…"

The demon seemed to come out of his distant thoughts, surprised at how he had let his emotions show. However, he gave a nod, knowing it was too late to hide it. "You are perceptive."

"I have seen such care in the eyes of Harry and his friends," Lupin replied with careful nonchalance, including a shrug.

'Along with others,' his mind muttered to him but he quickly ignored it. Now was not the time to think of James or…

"Do you know what mask you wore?" Lupin suddenly changed the subject, forcing his thoughts away from his lost friends. "Which ones the others wore?"

This was not one of the topics he had earlier agreed to discuss with the werewolf. This was one topic he strictly refused to speak about, for it would give too much away, not only about himself, but more importantly, his friends.

"That is not a current concern." His reply was polite but evasive, and Lupin had the feeling that his true words were more of ' it is not your concern'.

Lupin fidgeted slightly, looking to pry perhaps just a little more information. "But-"

Kurama cut him off, raising a hand. He would not debate this topic. "No summons has ever been completed. The messengers' identities are, as of the moment, unimportant. What I came to discuss with you is not our summons, but my secret."

The werewolf could only nod. He understood the reasons for his hesitation in discussing too much, and so let it drop for now. Perhaps he could gain more of the demon's trust in time and get something out of him later. "Do you still plan to attend Hogwarts?"

"I didn't plan to do so to begin with," the fox replied with a small grin. Lupin could only give a sheepish one in return – of course he hadn't planned any of this, it had all been chosen for him. "My companions and I cannot escape this country, Mr. Lupin. We have thought through all our options, and even if we attempted half of them, your ministry would catch up with us before we could become untraceable."

The news – particularly that last word – set something off in Lupin's thoughts. "Are all four of you demons?" he asked in shock, suddenly wondering if it was more than just the fox before him.

Kurama let loose a small chuckle. They were once more skirting topics he could not discuss. "That is not my secret to tell, but I will assure you that we are not all demonic." There was a pause in his words before he turned to Lupin, stopping their movement. "Are you uncomfortable with sending a demon to your school?"

The werewolf could only think of one answer, and so blurted it out without much thought. "Who wouldn't be?"

The demon gave a shrug and a little quirk of his lips: he could understand that. "I can give you my word and promise that no student will be harmed by my hand or will."

Lupin frowned a little at this. He was surprised that the demon would offer this type of promise, but he knew that, despite how he was getting over the stereotypes, demons could still lie as humans do. Deciding caution was a better approach, he returned, "And the others?"

There was a tired sigh in Kurama's reply, as he was obviously expecting such a question. "I…cannot promise for them, but I can take full responsibility for any student harmed by mine – or my colleagues – hands that was unnecessary, outside of self-defense, or by our wills."

The werewolf gave a soft sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a small headache beginning to form – he would have to ask Snape for something to get rid of it. "I…want to trust you, Kurama, but just your word-"

"Means little, I know. Very well," the fox replied as he raised a hand to his hair. Lupin frowned curiously, wondering what he was doing. The wolf within him bit out at his idiocy and told him to defend himself immediately.

Tensing at the sudden threat, Lupin's hand once more dug into his pocket just as Kurama lowered his hand with a flick of his crimson hair. He showed Lupin the blade of grass he held within his hand. "I give you my word, bound by blood pact."

In any other situation, the near tripling size of Lupin's amber eyes would have made Kurama laugh. Indeed, a blood pact was rare even in the demon realm. It was probably unheard of and never seen by any human or wizard in a millennia, at least.

In fact, he was surprised the werewolf even knew what it was.

The fox brought the blade of grass, as it sharpened into the edge of a tiny blade, to his finger. Pushing down, he watched the blood well up on the tip of his skin. Holding up his hand, he turned it over and watched as the crimson life force slowly fell from his flesh.

Halfway through its fall towards his second hand which had been held out as if to catch it, the drop slowed and froze in midair. It began to twist and mutate as swirls of black fog wrapped around it, concealing it from view. With a push of air that burst around them and send the strange darkness pushing out in all directions to thin and finally disappear, a roll of parchment sat, hovering between Kurama's outstretched hands.

"A blood pact," Kurama repeated, "will bind me to my promise." He held it out to the werewolf, his hand still wrapped tightly around the scroll. "Read it carefully. I wish you to know my intentions and my complete sincerity in this matter."

Lupin took the scroll with almost shaking hands. As a previous teacher of the dark arts, it was no secret that he enjoyed the subject immensely.

And this was as dark as you got.

A blood pact could only be summoned by the blood of a demon, so few wizards had ever seen such a thing. And it was said it would induce a most horrifying death if the contract within was ever broken, so even fewer would ever submit to the binding of one.

As he unrolled it, looking at the elegant script written out in glistening red blood, Lupin glanced through the words of the contract. It was thorough, guaranteeing that no one at Hogwarts would be harmed unless in self-defense or against Kurama's or his companion's wills.

Which would mean Kurama wouldn't suffer a horrible death should he be forced to harm anyone under the influence of the Imperius Curse, or any other such magical influence.

"This…" Lupin suddenly felt rather guilty in making this demon, who truly seemed to have only the best intentions, commit to such a dangerous promise. "This isn't really necces-"

"But it is." Kurama shook his head. "I have no dilemma in giving you my word in this contract. Besides, I can tell that you have never seen a blood pact."

A blush spread over Lupin's cheeks at that knowing smile on the fox's lips and he rolled up the scroll once more. "Wizards can't summon them," he confessed. "It is…an ancient magic we believed only demons could perform so, in some ways, it was lost to us."

"It takes demonic blood, yes," the fox replied, rather enjoying the conversation. It was like watching a child at Christmas – Lupin truly wanted to know more about the demon ways. "I will explain our ways to you, in full, if we are granted the time."

He couldn't suppress his light laugh as the werewolf's eyes lit up in excitement. "You are interested in the dark arts?" he asked curiously as they resumed their walk through the bleary streets.

"I'm interested in all Magical arts," he shot back, wanting to make it clear that it was not just the darkness that intrigued him but the art of learning anything new and unknown. "Would you teach me of your kind then? Of demons?"

The sudden possibility of friendship offered to him through a subject both would enjoy discussing intrigued Kurama. It was dangerous, he knew, to be discussing such a subject, but nothing in his mind nor instincts was warning him to be cautious of the werewolf.

And his demonic self longed for the company of another scholar.

"All but the secrets that are not yours to know," he finally consented with a small smile reserved for himself more than the man before him. "I would not presume to say that we trust one another yet, but I believe a certain friendship might be earned." He looked to Kurama with a soft, almost longing look. "I wish only to go home…but to do so I may need another's help."

Lupin glanced to him, which turned into more of a stare as he analyzed the demon before him. With such an expression, he suddenly saw not an old, wise demonic creature but a young and frightened teenager in an unfamiliar place.

After a long pause, he continued, "A mutual exchange of information, then?"

Kurama paused for a moment before glancing almost shyly over. "I had preferred the term friends."

"Friends require trust."

"Touché. You are far too intelligent for you own good, Mr. Lupin." The fox stared at the moving clouds high above them as he tucked the bloodied grass blade back into his hair. "I have a slight problem with such a deal, however."

Lupin glanced over. He had feared this was too good to be true. "And that would be?"

"I…may need more than information. It will be nothing dangerous, for it would be unfair of me to put you at risk to get my needs," Kurama said softly, his voice willing the werewolf to understand his words. "If it comes to actually escaping, I might need a little help. I am, of course, willing to offer something in exchange for this. Something more than mere information."

Interest piqued and wondering just what else the demon could offer, Lupin cautiously probed. He wouldn't put his own friends nor order at risk, but if it was of no harm to them, he wasn't so sure it would be a bad thing to get the demon and his friends out of England. They were probably putting Hogwarts at a terrible risk as it was. "What such bargaining chip, then?"

The demon stopped walking and Lupin turned, now a few feet ahead of him on the path, to stare into his green eyes. "I have contacts in the Spirit World."

Lupin's heart froze, fearing to beat again for the pain that false hope might inflict upon him. "Wh-what? What do you mean?"

Kurama gave a soft smile, trying to ease the obvious pain found in his companion's eyes. "I have contacts in the World of the Dead, and I will do what I can to search for the one you have lost. I cannot promise anything more than a chance to say goodbye properly."

He couldn't feel the world around him as he stared at the fox demon, his last chance to see Sirius. The wolf within him, however, was disgusted with such emotions and forced himself to think clearly, despite the pain in his heart. "H-how do you know I've lost anyone?"

"I have seen that look before – I have…experienced it before. You merely wish to say goodbye because you were robbed of the option at the time of your friend's death….the lack of closure can rot within you, Mr. Lupin. I would not wish that pain on any other."

Lupin couldn't believe how accurate Kurama's description was and he had to resist the hand that ached to grab his burning chest. "I will find him for you, and at least give you the right to say farewell."

"You can do that?"

"I can try," Kurama replied. "And I will give you my word that I will try as hard as I can to find your lost companion. In return, I would ask for your help in keeping quiet with the order…Especially that Dumbledore of yours. Fooling him is mentally exhausting."

The sudden humor in the fox's words brought a short laugh to Lupin's lips and he nodded. "I truly know what you mean. When I attended the school, however, he did keep my secret safe and did all he could for me…he has no prejudice against demons, Kurama…He could help you more than I, you know."

The fox gave a nod that suggested he had thought of such things already. Was there anything Kurama hadn't gone over before this conversation?

"Thank you for your advice," he began, shaking Lupin from his thoughts. "I will take it into consideration but I cannot play my cards too quickly, nor can I do so without the consent of my companions. I am responsible for their lives…I must be sure before I make such a bold move."

The werewolf nodded, understanding such logic. He briefly wondered what his school years would have been like if James and Sirius had thought things through as much as this boy did. Such a thought only brought more pain to him and he quickly banished the subject from his mind.

Better not to think of them at all than to live with constant pain.

"I understand," Lupin replied as he lifted the scroll up, remembering that he still had to sign it…though he wasn't sure how. "Do I have to…"

He gestured to Kurama's hair, where the grass blade had been hidden once more. However, the fox demon merely laughed in reply and shook his head. "No," his amused voice replied as he dug into his pocket for something. "You need only sign."

Pulling out a pen, he held it out to Lupin, who took it with a sort of grin. "Quite a muggle – not to mention very human – tool for a demon."

"Half demon, remember?" he offered in reply, watching Lupin sign his name at the bottom of the blood pact. "I was in Japan, actually, and had the pen in my pocket when we were summoned. It is easier than carrying quill and ink around."

"I have to agree with that," Lupin said as he looked down at his signature with a frown. "Doesn't write very elegantly however." Pushing the cap back on the pen he handed it to Kurama, who tucked it back into his pocket. "That reminds me, however…You aren't suffering from a memory spell, are you?"

The fox demon gave a sheepish grin. "Not quite."

Lupin merely nodded and held out the contract, but Kurama shook his head. "No, you keep it," he replied. "If you give it back, I could destroy it without your knowledge."

At the werewolf's nervous glance at the document and then the fox, Kurama tried to rephrase his statement. "I wouldn't do that, Mr. Lupin, but it is a demonic pact and demons are very suspicious. It is merely the rules of the contract – you keep it."

Lupin swallowed slightly and pocketed the scroll. "Very well…was there anything else we needed to discuss?"

Kurama smiled gently but shook his head. "That was all…I will need to know details about your friend and their death…but that can wait for another time. Perhaps one in which you can bring up your curiosity about demons."

Lupin's eyes went from a glazed sorrow to a lighted excitement, and Kurama almost felt badly for forcing so many different emotions to cross those beautiful amber eyes.

"Very well," the werewolf finally settled on a calm, and almost emotionless face. "We should head back then, the Order will begin to worry.

Kurama nodded, and they turned back, heading back to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place to face once more the rest of the wizarding world. But at least, in some weird pairing of companionship, the two had a little more hope in their lonely worlds.

-o-o-o-

Lupin turned away from the two demons as Hiei released Kurama from the hold that pressed him into the bookshelf.

Kurama was willing to die for the diminutive being, and yet he was treated in such a harsh way. The werewolf couldn't decide whether he felt sorry for the fox demon or if, perhaps, Kurama knew what he was doing.

He had to practically drag Hermione away from them, helping her pick her jaw up off the floor and continue. They had enough books, they should probably find the others.

His thoughts once more wandered to Sirius and he glanced behind him to Kurama, who was now smiling and seemingly conversing in silent conversation with his hot-tempered companion.

Could the fox really give him relief from his only regret?

Could the demon bring him to Sirius one last time?

Lupin sighed and released Hermione, emerging from the shelves and shelves of books to the crowded central foyer of the store. He stopped at what he saw, aggravation and annoyance flickering over his eyes at the small group standing out among the crowd.

A snobbish voice caused most of these emotions to flicker over his eyes as he looked to the boy that was close enough to being his very godson.

"What's with the new mudbloods, Potter?"

-o-o-o-

Chapter 6

End

-o-o-o-

Boy, that took a lot out of me!

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed. I'm far too tired to Author notes!

If you have any complaints, blame the beta! ;) I love you, KyoHana!