The Marauders Meet The band Queen.
Not owned by me at all… sad, but true. Mind you, some changes would have been made had I been responsible for the series… whingy Harry, I'm looking at you…
A. N- Okay, the last instalment, so please drop me a line and let me know what you thought overall , if you had a favourite chapter, or if one was particularly crap, I don't care. Just please review. This chapter has DH spoilers, but if you haven't read it, you aren't a fan and therefore have no business reading FANfiction. :P Hope you enjoy, and review… did I mention reviewing?
Part Ten – No One But You (Only The Good Die Young)
Dolhov ducked and weaved, avoiding the silent curses Remus threw at him. The tall, thin, shabby man fought the black-robed death eater. Remus' scarred and lined face glared at the silver skull-mask of one of the most dangerous death eaters. They were duelling in the grounds of Hogwarts. The fight had raged for what felt like hours, but in reality Remus knew it could be counted in minutes. Jets of light streamed between the two men, sparks flew a spells were cast and countered. Eyes blazing and teeth clenched Remus fought on without uttering a sound.
If Remus had either the time or inclination to look around he would have seen that Hogwarts was in chaos. Alecto Carrow was shrieking as she watched the giant squid lift her brother off the bank and tear him in two. Neville Longbottom fought Greyback, Luna Lovegood at his shoulder, some smaller students who had snuck back to help huddled behind him, His eyes set as he protected them from the beastly death eater. Bellatrix was laughing maniacally, her bosom heaving, her eyes burning with a vulgar and indecent glee as she fought, maimed, tortured and taunted her way to the castle.
Remus could feel the muscles of his neck and shoulders stretched taut and tingling. His legs were sore from dancing around his opponent. Remus felt old and alive at the same time. Adrenaline and pain flowing with the magic. Remus was glad for the monthly transformations he had to endure, they meant that not only was pain something he was familiar with, it was something he had tamed.
Fatigue was not.
Remus' lungs gulped in air, his heart raced, as he fought on. Dolhov disarmed him, as the Maple wand flew through the air and the death eater made a triumphant noise, Remus cast the Cruciatus curse with his left hand. Dolhov's screams rent the air as Remus prayed his enemy would succumb. He was too tired to fight on. Remus wondered a little when the screams stopped and the dark air around Hogwarts grew darker.
Remus awoke, his nose pressed into velvet, his legs tucke up to his chest. He was laying on his side on a couch. I'm on a couch he thought. A burgundy couch, I must be in the Gryffindor common room. How did I get here? He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his hands through his hair as he sat up. What is that smell? He wondered, as he opened his eyes and saw… books. Piles and piles of books obscuring from view other piles of books. He sat opposite a worn wooden door, a leash swung gently from a nail beside it. Remus could hear someone tinkering about in the kitchen he knew was behind him. To his left a door led to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Remus sighed a careworn sigh, screwed his eyes shut and rubbed at his face with his rough palms. He kept his eyes shut and hummed quietly to himself. That's it, you've finally lost it, Lupin. You're nuts, \mad as a hatter, off your chops, one short…
He heard gentle footsteps approach from behind him followed by a low, all too familiar chuckle. Remus peered up to see Sirius standing before him. A silky haired teenage Sirius stood before him. Black drainpipe jeans, a Queen T-shirt and bare feet. Just the way Remus thought of him, and dreamed of him for those long years. This was Sirius before betrayal, and death and suspicion, unsullied by time or punishment, beautiful and carefree. Sirius held a tray laden with tea and biscuits in his hands.
"FUCK ME!" Remus exclaimed as he sprang away from the smiling youth. Sirius laughed.
"Alas, dear Moonikins, as much as I'm tempted by your energetic offer, I can't right now, we're going to have guests soon. So stop hiding behind the lounge and make yourself somewhat presentable."
Remus had vaulted backwards over the lounge and was crouching behind it, peering over the top.
"What? What's going on? You're dead… Am I mad?"
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I'm dead, but you're not mad… well, not any madder, at any rate."
Remus thought for a little while before he spoke.
"Then… I'm dead?" He asked rising slowly from behind the chair.
"Yep! Isn't it brilliant?" Sirius beamed, but Remus failed to see what was so great about the whole thing.
"Where are we?" He asked. If in doubt ask a bunch of questions to buy time. He thought.
"Heaven."
"Heaven? Heaven is a tiny, grotty flat in London?"
"Heaven is wherever you were happiest in life." Remus couldn't miss the waver in Sirius' voice when he said this, or the beaming smile spread across his face. Sirius was clearly overjoyed that Remus had been happiest with him. A tear slipped from the grey-eyes. Remus instinctively moved and wiped it away with his thumb. He was shocked that he could touch the boy. Sirius responded by kissing away the surprised 'o' Remus' mouth formed before he shoved him into the bathroom with a bark of "Hurry up."
Remus stripped and had a warm shower. As the water coursed over him he thought of Tonks and Teddy. Tonks was young, beautiful, talented and stubborn. Remus had no doubt her life would continue, and she would find someone whole to love, someone who would love her better than Remus had. They both knew, on some level, that he didn't love her, not as much as he should have, and certainly not as much as she loved him. In the dark days following Sirius' death he had been drawn to her, drawn to her eyes, the eyes that looked so like her cousins. In grief and madness he had made a mistake and made her fall in love with him. She refused to be rebuffed and so he eventually gave in. He had decided that no good person would suffer at his hand again and so they had married. He had been content, not happy as such, but content. Then she had fallen pregnant and his guilt at lying to her and the world had come to the fore. He tried to run from responsibility then, for the first and last time in his life, when Harry had spoken truths to him and sent him packing.
His son was born mere weeks before. Remus had cried at the rush of love that swept through him as he held his tiny son in his arms for the first time. Teddy, so small, so beautiful, a pure truth born of the lie he told when he uttered "I do." But somehow he had made it all okay, bridging the gap between his parents.
But now Remus would never know his son, or have his son know him. He would never look upon the way the boy tilted his head and asked a question, or threw his head back and laugh and see himself. No sharing an evil laugh at a dirty joke, no pride-filled smiles at good report cards. This was the sacrifice they had made, Remus, old beyond his years, and Teddy, robbed of so much so early. Their sacrifice so that Teddy could know a better world than the one Remus had been born into.
Remus sighed and turned off the water and dried himself with an impossibly soft towel. As he turned to leave and get some clothes from the bedroom when he caught his reflection. He did a double take before he stumbled disbelievingly towards the bathroom mirror, eyes wide, a trembling hand on his cheek. Sodding Merlin's balls! he thought articulately I'm young. His facial scars had all disappeared except for one that ran along his right cheekbone (it had always been Sirius' favourite.) His hair was free of greys, his skin soft and unlined. You really shouldn't be surprised, you saw Sirius, you've returned to the time and place you were happiest mused a pompous inner voice.
"You're gorgeous Moony! Now get some clothes on, they'll be here soon," cried Sirius from the doorway.
By the time Remus was dried and dressed he could hear voices and laughter coming from the lounge, he followed the sound to find Sirius, James and Lily laughing at a dirty joke that Sirius pilfered from Dumbledore a lifetime ago. James bounded from his beanbag to pull Remus into a tight hug.
"Let him breathe, James," scolded Lily behind him as she waited for a chance to greet her friend.
"He's dead, Lils… he doesn't breathe," taunted James as he stepped aside to let his wife in.
"It's a figure of speech, you prat!" Lily kicked out at James with her foot as she folded her arms around Remus. "I have been starved for intelligent conversation with these two around."
"Urghgh?" Remus answered.
"Spoke too soon, eh, Lils?" laughed Sirius as Remus stood, staring at the Potters. While he and Sirius were now about nineteen, two years younger than James and Sirius. James was saying something about Remus being slow when the werewolf snapped back into the conversation.
"Sorry, pops, didn't catch that."
"What?" James asked.
"It's okay, you're old, I'll speak louder next time…"
"Hey!" yelled James as he launched himself at Remus. He and Remus were wrestling on the floor until a surge of green flames appeared in the fireplace. Dumbledore stepped onto the threadbare carpet, his robes a shimmering blue, his beard as long and impressive as ever. Remus wondered at why he had not returned to his youth when the blue-eyed man spoke
"Good day to you all, sorry to impose, but I have some urgent matters to discuss with you all."
The old man, imposing even in death, strode to the dining table, and sat down, gesturing for them to join him.
"We haven't much time, so to begin…" He waved his hand again as they sat. Remus' head filled with a thousand images flickering past, once they stopped Remus knew all about Voldemort's horcruxes and Harry's quest to find and destroy them and an eerie voice echoed a prophecy in his head.
"What was that?" Remus asked.
James sighed and muttered "Newb." Sirius chuckled before he explained.
"The getting and sharing of knowledge is easier here. Albus wants us to know these things so they were transferred instantly, saving time. You will begin to get used to it."
"So, this means you know everything, does it?" Remus smiled teasingly.
"Always have, Moony." He smiled impishly.
"So, you know it was Lily who pulled the Christmas prank?"
Sirius' eyes widened in shock and fixed on the blushing redhead.
"If I may," interjected Dumbledore, "I shall get right to the point. Voldemort created seven horcruxes. Harry has destroyed all but two. The two remaining are both living things. The sixth is the snake, Nagini. The seventh was made accidentally and without Voldemort's knowledge, many years ago. The seventh horcrux is Harry." James and Lily stared at Dumbledore, linking shaking hands, but otherwise remaining still. Sirius was on his feet in an instant.
"WHAT?" he thundered. His hands clenched, his face a mask of rage and fear.
"Sit down please, Sirius, there is more. I need you to all remain calm and trust in me."
Sirius sat, obedient but unhappy about it. He took Remus' hand in his. They mirrored the couple opposite them.
"Harry will be finding all of this out soon. He will learn that he must go to Voldemort and…" the old man faltered for a second before he continued, "… he must be killed. Before this happens he will, I believe, call upon the four of you. I must make it clear that I do not believe Harry will die. If he sacrifices himself, willingly only the piece of Voldemort he carries with him will expire. Harry will return to life and finally know love, safety and joy. For this to happen though, you must play your part. He will need you to shepherd him to death. Above all he needs you to help him through his fear. You need to be calm and supportive. I know how hard this will be for you all."
James had tears in his eyes as he contemplated his son and whispered
"My son, is so brave. My son,' he gazed at Lily 'Our son."
Dumbledore bid a goodbye as they stood together and waited for Harry to call upon them. Remus and Sirius stood behind James and Lily. Lily was beside herself torn between fear and an excitement at being able to talk to and see the baby she died protecting, now a man.
Strong, brave and true.
Before long they were at Hogwarts, Lily staring into her own eyes in another face. She was finally guiding Harry, soothing and reassuring him.
As a mother should.
The End.
Note- Remus obviously doesn't know about tonks in this fic. Just go with it, okay?