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It was amazing how calm Sirius was for the first seconds. His face bore an expression of shock, almost disbelieving as Moria's shirt began to stain red, the white fabric slowly changing color, the sickening color seeming to eat the pure white. She made several chocking sounds as the man holding her, released her arms. She fell forward, slamming into the ground into an undignified heap. And that seemed to snap Sirius out of his stupor.
"MORIA?! MORIA!" He yelled out, moving forward, but was stopped by the two men that was holding him back. James had done the same, with the same results, his face just as pale as Sirius's. The man standing in front of them chuckled, glancing at Moria.
"Now. Tell us what you know, Black." He said as Moria slowly brought her hand up, almost weakly, pressing it against her neck to try and halt the bleeding. Sirius didn't seem to hear the man's order, instead struggling in vain to try and free himself, calling Moria's name over and over again.
"MORIA, HANG IN THERE! ANSWER ME! DON'T YOU DARE DIE! MORIA!" Sirius yelled.
"Have you decided, Black?" The man asked again, amused. Sirius swung his gaze towards him, rage darkening his features.
"YOU BASTARD!" He yelled out, lurching forward against his captors, trying to free his arms. Pain coursed through them, but the Deatheaters didn't relinquish their hold. James was also struggling against his captors. One Deatheater gripped Moria by her jacket, pulling her to where she was directly in front of the two Marauders.
"Well…it seems the hands have changed, hasn't it?" The Deatheater in front of them asked, staring down at Moria, bending slightly to observe her. Sirius growled in warning.
"Get away from her." He snarled, tilting forward again.
"How about a compromise? You tell me what you know, and I'll heal her." The Deatheater suggested, looking up at the two men, who were both pale. "I suggest you hurry in your decision, or she won't last much longer."
"…I won't…die…" Moria managed to whisper out. "I've…been ordered…not to…die…" she continued, glaring up at the man. He seemed unamused.
"If one had such a body, then one wouldn't have to suffer like a human." He stated coolly, looking back at Sirius. "What will you do, Black? Your precious woman is dying right in front of your eyes." He stated. "If you leave her be, she'll bleed to death. But…I do know enough healing to heal that nasty wound." He stated.
James and Sirius were silent, the wish to kill this man prevalent in both of their faces, the expression darker on Sirius. The man looked down at Moria's form. "Oh? She's suddenly so quiet. Did she die already?" He asked, mostly to himself, but loud enough for the two to hear. Sirius's heart dropped to his stomach as the Deatheater nudged Moria's shoulder. She shifted, looking at Sirius and James.
"You'll tell us everything, won't you? Do you want to lose another precious person?"
"…Don't…you…dare…" Moria forced out, glaring at them. "Don't…give them…a single…thing." She continued, breathing sharply. Sirius looked at her in pain, shaking as he watched the pool of blood grow larger. He offered a pained smile, almost apologizing to Moria.
"We won't…" He finally murmured. "We won't tell you anything."
"Alright so Bryn said it was below…" Wulfric said as they entered the shack. He then watched Cepheus utter a spell and he heard a mechanical sound of a lock unlocking. He looked at his brother blandly. "You are such a show-off Ceph."
"It's my job to get into tombs, Wulfric. I do know a thing or two about lock spells." Cepheus replied before a trapdoor sprung up.
"Let's go. Before someone hears us." Remus said and with that the three men, and three girls jumped into the dark abyss that the trapdoor led them through. They landed in a hall and were stunned. It looked like a medieval dungeon, lanterns and all. Remus felt sickened. He had known it was going to be bad. But he still couldn't wrap his mind around the concept of Bryn being imprisoned here…and now his friends? He forced himself to control the anger that was brewing inside of him, shaking his head.
"Let's go." Wulfric hissed out and quietly the three snuck in disturbed at how quiet it was. They continued deeper into the darkness waiting for any movement.
Any definition of life, though there seemed to be none.
"We're running out of time." Cepheus growled as they searched throughout the next hall. "They'll bound to get ti-"
"Shh! Hear that?" Wulfric shushed. They were silent.
"MORIA?! MORIA!"
"MORIA, HANG IN THERE! ANSWER ME! DON'T YOU DARE DIE! MORIA!"
They stood there frozen for a second, in shock, the words echoing down the caverns. What the hell had happened to Moria? They rushed away towards the yells.
"You won't?" The Deatheater asked, almost in surprise. He then burst out laughing. "Did you hear that, Ms. Prescott? You have such a heartless lover. He would sooner protect his cause, then protect you." He scoffed. Sirius was shaking.
"He's…a good…listener…" she murmured, her eyes seeming to slowly ebb away in life, her lips ghosting a small smile. Sirius's face contorted in pain, and James watched the pair in agony. Sirius didn't deserve this. Neither did Moria. The Deatheater sighed.
"Well then…" He pulled out his wand and pointed at Moria. "She isn't really necessary anymore is she?"
"No! Don't!" Sirius yelled out, but seemed to be little avail.
"I want you to know your lover did this to you. You have him to thank for this." The Deatheater snarled. "Avada-"
"STUPEFY!"
The Deatheater barely had time to look up, before he was lifted up and shot backwards, slamming into the wall. The other Deatheaters yelled and loosened their hold on Sirius and James, going for their wands. Sirius wrenched out of his captors grip, rushing towards Moria as all hell broke loose as spells flew and the Order members rushed in. He slid to her side, hoisting her into his arms.
"Moria!?" He called out. Her eyes were closed, unresponsive, and she was so pale. As though the life had been drained out of her. No. Please God, no, Sirius begged, as he continued calling her name. A figure rushed up to him, kneeling down. Looking up he saw it was Chelsea. She didn't even offer a greeting, just began to work on Moria. Her expression soured at how much blood Moria had lost, and she tapped the neck wound with her wand. He saw the bleeding slow, and to his relief, Moria inhaled sluggishly. She was still pale, and apparently still unconscious. But she was alive.
"I need to get her to Mungo's. Thank God the charms are down." Chelsea declared turning to Wulfric. "Wulf! Get over here." She called out. The older blonde rushed over, and Sirius could see his eyes flash in anger at the sight of Moria, before plucking the woman out of his arms. Sirius stood, about ready to fight.
"I'll-"
"I don't need you possibly splinching yourself when we apparate or more importantly her being splinched. I don't want her losing any more blood. She's on the edge as it is." Chelsea snarled. Sirius took a step back, almost in surprise at the anger that Chelsea had on her expression. "You've already hurt her enough, why don't you stop while you're ahead?!" She yelled before turning and gripping Wulfric and the trio disparated with a pop.
They had made it to Mungo's a little bit later, and after being healed, and forced to drink disgusting potions, settled in the waiting room. Sirius was the farthest from the group, staring at the door where Healers were walking in and out, Chelsea's words repeating in his head over and over again.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice asked. He glanced up, staring at Bryn who was looking at him, smiling. He looked away. He didn't deserve kindness right then. She sighed and sat down next to him.
"Shouldn't you be worrying about your son? Not about me?"
"Geoffrey is in good hands right now." She stated, pointing. He glanced in the direction of her finger and saw that Geoffrey was with Remus, apparently content in gripping large handfuls of the werewolf's hair in his tiny hands, playfully yanking them. The small toddler laughed at Remus's pained expression. He smirked, his eyes tired.
"How old is the tyke again? He's growing like a weed." Sirius murmured watching as Remus put him down. Bad move on Remus's part as Geoffrey took off, running away, with Remus in close pursuit. Bryn chuckled.
"He's a year old already." Bryn stated. "And as flattering as this conversation is…I'm not here to talk about my son's age." She commented. "What did Chelsea say to you?" She asked.
He was silent, staring at the door again. Bryn sighed.
"Don't take what she said to heart. She tends to snap at people when she gets pissed off or worried."
"She was right though." Sirius whispered. Bryn glanced at him, watching as Sirius rubbed his face hard, his eyes pained. "I'm a git."
"Is that surprising?"
"Thanks a lot."
"But you'd have to have some redeeming qualities, or I doubt Moria would have gone out with you." Bryn stated.
"I pushed her away."
"Because of the Potter's deaths?" Bryn observed. Sirius flinched, looking away. "I doubt she was angry at you for that. Hurt? Probably…but never angry."
"How can you be so sure?" Sirius asked. "I'm not even sure that she would forgive me."
"Because she knows just as much as I know that everyone grieves differently." Bryn replied. Sirius looked up at her, his eyes red rimmed and glassy. "I grieved the loss of a lot of things by seeing the good of what came. Geoffrey. If he hadn't come along…I probably wouldn't have had the reason to escape. And I probably wouldn't have lasted long after." She explained. "Moria probably grieved in a different way about the loss of her parents. How can she have been angry to something that she knows everyone has a different way of dealing with?"
Sirius was silent, staring at Bryn almost in surprise. She smiled and it brightened when Geoffrey toddled up to her gripping her pant leg, almost begging to be picked up, which she obliged. Remus walked up to the pair, looking tired.
"He's a fast runner." He merely stated and Bryn laughed, nuzzling her son's cheek.
"Did you get tired of Remus, Geoff?"
"Moo-ey." Geoffrey exclaimed, laughing and wiggling around. He then glanced at Sirius, who seemed to be observing them. He stretched towards Sirius.
"Ahdut!" He yelled triumphantly. Finally Sirius chuckled and looked at Remus in confusion mixed with amusement.
"Ahdut?"
"A rather butchered version of Padfoot." Remus explained with a chuckle.
"Sorry about that." Bryn remarked. She then looked up as Chelsea exited. Sirius stood up quickly, but still looked hesitant. Chelsea was the last person one would want to piss off. He had learned that several times the hard way…and he was pretty sure he had managed to piss her off with his behavior lately.
"So…how's the prognosis?" Bryn asked, taking over where Sirius had faltered. James and Lily had hurried over. Chelsea frowned and then shrugged.
"Dare I ask what she did to piss them off so badly?" She asked. "Considering how much shit they did to her."
"We don't know." James answered. "She never told us."
"Hmph." Was Chelsea's response. "Well whatever happened to her leg, was before your imprisonment." Chelsea stated. "She lost a lot of blood with that, gained a small infection…which I attribute to having an open wound. Other than that and the obvious slit throat she earned a fractured wrist—in three different places, a dozen abrasions, a few broken ribs, a small concussion, and about a dozen or so bruises." Chelsea listed off, merely glancing at how pale Sirius was getting with a cool indifference. Bryn however frowned.
"Chelsea-"
"All in all Black. You should consider yourself lucky you're dating a fighter." Chelsea remarked. "She's weak…but she's conscious now. And…she's asking for you." She stated, jerking behind her shoulder. "Go on ahead. She's in the third room on the right." She informed. Sirius was gone within an instant. Bryn glared at her friend.
"Did you have to be that mean? The bloke already feels guilty enough." She hissed out. Chelsea shrugged.
"Just being honest. Besides, you know Moria. She'll want to know what happened to her." Chelsea replied. Bryn rolled her eyes and the pair began to converse. Remus was watching the pair as James walked up to him.
"Have you told her yet?"
Remus glanced at his friend and frowned, shaking his head. James sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking at Remus. "Just tell her Moony. This is Bryn. She won't go running off screaming to the heavens in fear if she knows that you're a werewolf." James continued, before walking over to where his wife was. Lily automatically curled up to his touch, pressing her head into his chest. Remus swallowed at the sight and glanced at Bryn.
Sirius panted as he raced down the hall. He had been an idiot, a complete idiot to think that he could just act so coldly around her and for her to not be affected by it. Now he would have to beg for her forgiveness. But would she accept it? After all that had happened, he wouldn't be surprised if she didn't feel rejected and would be angry at him.
A darker part of his mind spoke out. How much did he still love her? What part did he love her? What about did he love her? How much…
But that train of thought was killed, vanquished, smothered, and drifted away as he turned around a corner and spotted the room. He hesitated for a brief second, staring at the door in a panicked haze before silently opening it, peering in. And there she was. She seemed to be asleep, one arm draped over her stomach, the other resting against her side. Her hair had been let out of the ponytail that it had been in for weeks, cleaned of whatever had been in it. A thick bandage was wrapped around her neck. Apparently magical healing had already done its wonders and now it just needed to be kept safe of infection. She looked peaceful, the color returned to her face. Slowly her eyes opened, and she locked contact with him in a near second. She smiled.
A new thought dawned into his mind.
It didn't matter. It didn't matter at all. He loved her. He just did and that was all. So much he could hardly stand it.
"Hey." He stated softly, walking in and sitting down next to her.
"Hi…" she whispered, offering a soft smile. He let out a chuckle, which seemed to be weary. She stared at him, frowning. "Sorry…scared you…"
"Don't." He stated. "Don't apologize."
She stared at him, biting her lower lip. She could sense it. No good. It wasn't good at all. Everything was over. She had done something wrong and there was nothing she could do. It hurt to just hear his name and it felt like she was being stabbed repeatedly in the chest. She had been delusional to think that anyone would want a long relationship with her…the 'Ice-Queen of Gryffindor'…she was no good, dragging her feelings around. A bother to everybody…especially to Sirius. It was hopeless…she had told herself just to smile when she saw him again and had failed miserably.
"You are such a complete failure." She heard echoing in her brain. She felt her heart breaking. She then tuned back into a sigh looked up, her eyes glassy and fighting back tears. Sirius was looking down at the ground, seeming to contemplate things. And her heart snapped in two and the tears slid down her cheeks. She wanted to be with him…but as of late, she was positive he didn't. And it hurt. It hurt so much. She automatically covered her face trying to hide the fact she was crying.
"Stop. Stop crying. I don't want to be a bother to him. I don't want him to see me crying." She kept ordering her mind to obey but it did nothing. Suddenly she felt a hand touch hers and she looked to see Sirius now sitting on the side of the bed, clasping her hands, being careful of their still bandaged hands. He swallowed before looking at her.
"I…" He started and stopped as though trying to figure out what the bloody hell he was going to say. "Moria…I'm sorry…I was only thinking about myself. I was being selfish, acting like what I wanted to, saying what I wanted to say." He said before looking away not seeing her eyes widening in shock. "And I completely ignored your feelings." He continued and tears slid down her face.
"Siri-"
"I should have known it could have happened…that we might never be able to see each other again and I would never have a chance to apologize. I should have known…but I kept making the same mistakes over and over again. It's like I never learned." He continued, interrupting her. She tried to talk again, but her voice clung to the back of her throat and his grip on her hand tightened.
"I'm sorry that I made you cry. I hurt you a lot and I'm really sorry." He said. "But this is the last time. Just please. Please give me one more chance with you." He begged looking at her anxiously. "I want us to be together, I want to live together. I hate not being with you…I hate myself for putting a rift between us. I never, never wanted to hurt you, Moria. I love you." He said and her face grew in shock. "I love you so much Moria." He said and the tears slid down her face again, and she once again tried to stop them, and like before the tears didn't stop as she nodded her head a slight sob escaping from her mouth.
She felt his hand glide across the edge of her face before cupping her cheek, gliding his thumb over it wiping at the tears.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry." She whimpered out, wiping at her tears. She heard him chuckle softly and looked at him.
"Love, don't you dare apologize for my stupidity." He murmured before drawing her to him and kissing her. She blinked in shock before relaxing and returning the kiss, gripping his shirt. Slowly they withdrew and he rested his forehead on her. "I'm so sorry, Moria. Am I forgiven?"
"You're an arse." She murmured, sniffling and he chuckled.
Bryn smiled as she spotted Remus walked over to them. Bidding Chelsea goodbye, she hoisted Geoffrey up, and walked up to him.
"Hey. How are you?" she asked as he walked up to her. He smiled at her before grabbing her hand.
"Tired…but relieved." He said and she laughed cocking her head to the side.
"That would be expected. I mean you nearly lost two of your mates. You haven't really slept since you got back." She said and then tsked jokingly at him. "You're going to get more gray hairs than anyone I know Remus with the amount of worrying that you do." She joked as they walked out of the hospital. He smiled, squeezing her hand lightly. He then remembered what James had told him before he had left.
"Just tell her Moony. This is Bryn. She won't go running off screaming to the heavens in fear if she knows that you're a werewolf."
Remus sighed. It was easier said than done. James, Sirius, and Peter had figured it out. And Snape had found out because of that stupid prank Sirius had done years back. He had never told anyone and honestly feared telling Bryn. No doubt she wouldn't want her son near him. They both had already gone through a lot…why-
"-emus? Remus you there?" he heard Bryn said and snapped back into reality.
"Oh sorry." He said ducking his head as he blushed. Bryn looked at him with concern on her face. Geoffrey seemed to notice it too, and was now staring at him.
"Something wrong?" she asked, and he looked at her confused.
"What makes you say that?" he asked and she pressed her finger on her brow.
"Whenever you start thinking about something really hard, your eyebrows knit up and you frown." She explained. "You did that in Hogwarts too. It's a miracle you haven't gotten any wrinkles because of it." She said and he chuckled. "So? Is something bothering you?" she asked looking at him. He glanced at her. Better now than never.
"Can we just…sit…I need to tell you something." He said and she looked at him before nodding and sitting down on a nearby park bench and letting Geoffrey rest against her lap. She looked at him.
"Alright…so I've been hiding something from you." He said and she cocked her head to the side.
"Which is?"
"I…I'mawerewolf." He said quickly and she blinked her eyebrows furrowing.
"Could you say that again? A bit slower,please?" She asked and he internally groaned.
"Bryn…"he said sitting down next to her clasping her hand with his. "I'm…I'm a werewolf." He said and she blinked and opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off.
"I'm sorry I never told you. It's just that I didn't want you to run away and never talk to me. I know that this can come as a shock-"
"That's it? Remus, I already knew that." Bryn said and Remus looked at her in surprise.
"You...you did? Did Moria-"
"No. I figured it out. For one right before a full moon you always get a bit…jumpy and more animalistic around me. Such as making sure guys don't get near me if we're out, being a bit more protective over Geoffrey, getting a little more…frisky during those times." She said and his face turned red. "Then you would disappear every full moon, only to come back the next day exhausted and covered in injuries. It's not that hard to figure out. Besides…I knew since our third year." She said and his shocked look continued.
"How…" he trailed off and she blushed pushing back a strand of her hair in embarrassment.
"Well…my third year my…menstrual cycle started while we were at school. I had owled my mum but I knew it take a little while for her to send anything." She said her blush growing deeper and redder. "So I went to Madam Pomfrey to ask if she had anything. I guess it must have been the day after the full moon because you were there getting treated." She explained.
"Wha?" He started, furrowing his brow, trying to remember. "But I don't remember anyone walking in anytime when I was being patched up by her." Remus said confused. Bryn blushed.
"That would be because I didn't go in. 3rd year was just when I was coming to terms that I had a crush on you." She said, waving her free hand nonchalantly. "It was a very awkward year for me. But I thought you were just getting a bandage and would leave soon. Then I overheard Madam Pomfrey talking about every month with you and that she doubted that James, Peter, or Sirius would care if you were a werewolf and it probably would have been better if someone knew." She said.
"But you didn't…I mean you didn't treat me any differently…why?" he asked looking at the ground.
"Why should I?" She asked. Remus looked at her.
"Well for one, werewolves aren't well liked in any community. We're considered monsters. And Geoffrey-"
"Adores you. If a one year old isn't afraid of a 'monster' why should I?" She asked. "I know what a monster is, Remus. I had to live two years with normal men who were anything but human. So I define monsters as being something completely different." She stated. "Besides the fact, I'm a muggleborn witch who was known as being a slight airhead. For one I didn't really know what being a werewolf entailed or how I should act…two I didn't care. You were still Remus, the boy who helped me cast Wingardium Leviosa without blowing myself up, helped me figure out half of my homework because Chelsea was about as bad as I was, and helped me in our first flying lesson when Madam Hooch was chastising James for being a showoff, and I ended up flipping over upside down." She said forcing him to look at her.
"I loved you then and I love you now. Human, wizard, werewolf, I don't care. I think the only time I'll ever stop loving you is if you turn into Peeves." She said and he chuckled. "I'm being serious. If you die and turn into a poltergeist I swear to Merlin I will-" she began to say but was cut off as he kissed her. She murmured softly against his mouth. He moved away from her a smile on his face and he laughed softly. She blushed and smiled as well.
"Moo-ey!" Geoffrey grunted placing his hands on the older man's face, a definite frown on his chubby face. Remus burst out laughing.
"Don't like that I'm stealing your Mum, huh?" He joked. Geoffrey huffed causing both adults to laugh.
It was late at night as Sirius glanced over at Moria. She was reclined in her bed, resting against his chest, reading something…a book that Lily had given to her. He shifted, grunting slightly before he slid his finger just across her cheek earning—much to his satisfaction—a shudder and her leaning into his touch.
"Sirius…" She trailed off and then shifted. "I should probably get some sleep." She whispered going to move and allow him to leave. He grabbed her wrist quickly and looked at her pleadingly.
"I'll stay here…okay?" he asked.
"Sirius…" she began.
"Moria, I was a git for nearly a month and I haven't held you in that time. And I missed that." He said. She stared at him and sighed and smiled slightly before nodding. She scooted over and allowed him room to lie down, before following and curling up to him. He pulled her to him, resting his chin on the top of her head. He closed his eyes enjoying her warmth, realizing how much he had missed this. Listening to her light breathing and feeling it tickle the side of his neck ever so slightly, her body automatically curled loosely to his side.
"Moria?" he said softly and she looked up him, as he moved away. He then kissed her, pulling her close to him. He felt her grip his shirt under her hands, fisting it tightly. He tangled his fingers in her hair, a groan escaping his mouth as he moved to kiss deeper. She murmured softly.
"Sirius…we're in the hospital." She gasped as he slid his mouth to her neck. He groaned in annoyance, resting his head on her neck.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. No shagging at the hospital." He murmured and he heard her laugh breathlessly. He had missed this…he had missed this so much. Just talking to her, laughing, kissing, holding her. He regretted being a git to her. He regretted it so much.
"Moria." He said softly and she once again looked at him, her eyes slightly closed, her cheeks red, and a small smile on her face.
"Hm?"
"I love you." He said and heard her laugh before she kissed him gently on the lips.
"I love you too." She replied before resting her cheek onto his chest. He smiled slightly before closing his eyes and for the first time in a month, despite not being in his own bed—instead being on an uncomfortable cot that had odd bumps in it—slept peacefully.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" James asked as he and Lily entered their home. He closed the door and locked it. Lily seemed nervous. "Lil? You oka-" He began to ask, but stopped when she walked over to him and hugged him, pressing her face into his shirt.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Lily asked, her voice quiet as she looked up at him. He offered a tired smile.
"I'm fine Lily. Just a bit bruised."
"You don't know how scared I was when I found out you, Sirius, and Moria had been captured." She murmured. "I…I thought we wouldn't find you alive. We almost didn't find Moria in-"
"But it didn't happen." James interrupted. "Moria is perfectly fine now."
"She's still in the hospital."
"For an overnight observation. She'll be released tomorrow." James reassured. "Now what's bothering you?"
Lily glanced down and then pressed one of his hands to her stomach, inhaling sharply to stop her crying. She offered a teary smile.
"I'm pregnant."
His reaction would have been hilarious, if her heart was threatening to thud out of her chest. He stared at her, his eyes wide as the gaze flicked from her face, to her stomach, then back to her face. And then a dazzling smile spread across his mouth. He laughed weakly, and it grew in strength, before he was on the verge of whooping. He picked her up and swung her in a circle, before kissing her deeply, enough to make her dizzy.
"Are you positive?" He asked when they parted. "A baby? Really?"
She nodded weakly, tears sliding down her face, contradicting her smile. He frowned, wiping the tears away.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because…I don't know. I didn't know if you'd want it." She finally whispered. "We're in the middle of a war, this is no place to bring a child into the mix, and-"
He silenced her again with another kiss.
"I don't care. It's a baby. That fact alone, will give me more reason to fight." He argued. "I want this." He stated with a smile. "I want this so much."
She stared at him, before a brilliant smile broke across her face, and she laughed, pressing her forehead to his, kissing his cheek. He pulled her to him, pressing his face into the crook of her neck, kissing her hair. She felt one hand slide to her stomach, feeling the soft flesh as though that would get the baby to kick. She laughed against his chest, moving away.
"The baby can't kick yet." She reprimanded him. He offered a smile, drawing her into another kiss.
"I don't care. There's a baby there."
She laughed and nodded, pressing a hand over his.
"Yeah. There's a baby there."
SO…READ AND REVIEW? WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK?
