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Halloween night continues...

Warning: for language (not much, though)

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Chapter 11: Disarm

"The killer in me is the killer in you."

Disarm, Smashing Pumpkins

Remus couldn't believe his nerve. He actually tried to get into Gryffindor Tower. What was he thinking? he pondered incredulously. A part of him, the tiny part that still found it hard to believe that Sirius was capable of such betrayal, was questioning his old mate's logic, while his sense and reason screamed the obvious – Sirius was a Death Eater, of course he would try and finish the job that his 'master' had started twelve years ago.

He wandered the corridors, wand out, a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach. He knew that Sirius wasn't there anymore. He'd fled the moment he realized he wouldn't be getting his way, Remus was sure of it. Yet still, he had to keep up appearances; he had to keep Dumbledore and the rest of the staff believing that he had no idea just how Sirius had managed to break into – and now flee – Hogwarts castle. He had to keep up the lie.

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Sophie stood behind the office door, the sound of the lock clicked firmly in place still ringing in her ears. Her father and Professor McGonagall had gone off to join the rest of the staff in the search for Sirius Black and they'd locked her in for her own safety. She'd wanted to argue, force them to let her head back to the Great Hall with the other students but the look on her father's face had stopped her from saying a word.

Sophie knew, of course, that they wouldn't find him. As the dog, he would have slipped out of the castle easily enough, and could even hide in plain sight on the grounds and no one would suspect it was him. How could they? One of his best mates, her father, had divulged every detail about Black that he knew, and being able to turn at will into canine form was not among them.

When her father had swept from his office after McGonagall, she could feel the tension coming off him. With the full moon less than a week away, she worried for his well – being, especially because she knew he would somehow blame himself for Black's actions and, despite the Wolfsbane potion, the wolf would punish him accordingly.

Damn you, Black, she thought angrily as she paced the office, wringing her hands. Why did you have to come back here? But she knew the answer to that. Harry.

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Damn him! Remus cursed to himself as he turned into another deserted corridor on the fourth floor. Damn him straight to hell! His mind was racing over the old memories, the ones in the days leading up to Voldemort's downfall. Every smile and friendly gesture he'd witnessed take place between James and Sirius now haunting him. It made him want to howl in pain, frustration, anger, rage… He thought fleetingly of Harry and what he must be feeling. Did he even suspect Black was after him?

It was all too much. Sirius loose on the world again brought it all back. You don't deserve to live, he thought angrily as he pictured Sirius' waxen, disfigured face in his mind's eye.

He had to stop him – he was the only one who could. If I ever lay eyes on him again,he resolved gravely, I'll take care of him myself – once and for all.

But even as he stood in a darkened corner of a fourth floor corridor, unaware that his feet were now still while his mind continued to race down memory's path, he knew, somewhere deep inside, that he could never go through with it. To his detriment, to his shame, Sirius still held a place in his heart – his old mate, his brother, his only living friend. And even though, as a werewolf, it was in his nature to kill, he knew he could never hurt someone he had once loved – even if that someone did not exist anymore – because Remus knew, sadly, the man in his heart once had.

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Sophie continued to pace the length of the room for some time, going over the little details her father had told her about Black in her mind. There wasn't much. She knew he had been popular, like Harry's father, and that he was from a once – respected pureblood family, almost all of them dead. She also knew he was the last male in the Black line, and that one of his cousins, a woman, had been in Azkaban with him. She didn't know why it was so important to her to know as much about the man as she could. Maybe it was a way to distract herself from the tension of waiting for word of his whereabouts, or maybe it was because she still found it difficult to believe that Black was the same person who had helped her.

She stopped at the window and looked out onto the grounds. A lantern light flashed across the lawn by Hagrid's cabin. Must be Filch, she thought as the light swung over the grass, illuminating small patches as it moved back towards the castle. She sighed and looked down, then back up towards the lake, silently pondering how much longer she would be stuck there when something caught her eye. A swift movement in the shadows, gleaming eyes and a moment later she saw it. The dog. But he wasn't alone. On his tail, creeping stealthily behind him was a cat. Not just any cat – Hermione's cat Crookshanks.

She watched in disbelief as they darted across the grounds towards the Whomping Willow and slid easily from view. She didn't need to see anymore. She knew exactly where he and the traitorous cat were going – The Shrieking Shack.

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"Any luck?"

Madame Hooch surveyed Remus groggily, her cloak pulled over blue striped robes.

"No," he answered, shaking his head. He turned to Dumbledore, who stood just outside the closed doors of the Great Hall. "The fourth floor's clear, sir," he reported.

"Thank you, Remus," he acknowledged, as other professors approached. He turned and received the same news from the others.

Remus watched wearily, exhaustion and anxiety having zapped him of any energy he had left. He suspected it was the effects of the impending full moon, which seemed to be hitting him all of a sudden since he started the Wolfsbane regimen two months ago. But he realized it was just as likely that worrying about Sirius was taking its toll.

"It's obvious that Black has fled," he heard Dumbledore saying. He turned his attention to the headmaster once more. "Perhaps it's best if we keep the students here tonight as they're already settled in for the night." He looked around and his eyes lingered just for a moment on Remus. "I need a few volunteers to keep watch over the students – two or three will do – and the rest of you can get some rest." He looked at Snape. "Severus," he said, "no need to volunteer, you have the earliest class tomorrow." He surveyed the others. "You, too, Remus," he said casually dismissing him, but Remus knew he the truth. The headmaster was worried for him.

Merlin, I must look like the back end of a hippogriff, he thought as he walked back to his office. The guilt that he had been carrying around with him for the past twelve years was steadily gnawing away at his conscience. You have to tell him, he thought. You have to tell Dumbledore the truth. His mind turned to Sophie, locked in his office, and he wondered what she might was feeling as she waited alone. If you tell Dumbledore, what will happen to her? a tiny voice in his head asked him. He didn't know. He didn't want to find out.

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Sophie had to get him. She had to get to him now.

She searched the room desperately for something, anything that could help her do what her mind had already resolved to do, her eyes falling over objects in the room in desperation. I can't let him get away! She felt panic rising within at the realization that she was locked in with no way out. She could feel the tears building at the frustration and anxiety that was climbing slowly but steadily in her body. She whirled around wildly, a constricted feeling in her chest, when her eyes fell on a small blue pot sitting on the mantle of the fireplace and a sudden thought occurred to her. No, she thought, it couldn't… but it's possible… more than possible…

Suddenly and without a thought for anything or anyone other than the nagging need to follow the dog, Sophie crossed the short distance to the fireplace, opened the pot and pulled out a handful of green powder. She threw it swiftly into the simmering fire, causing it to rise up in great emerald flames. She stepped into the fire and felt the odd sensation of white – hot tickling flames around her. She closed her eyes, took a breath and uttered three words clearly -- "The Shrieking Shack."

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Remus became increasingly aware that someone was following behind him. He turned around slowly to face his stalker, sensing who it was before they spoke.

"Don't think for a second you fool me, Lupin," Severus seethed, suddenly stepping out of the shadows. His pointy face was screwed up in a grimace.

"I wouldn't try," he answered wearily. He wasn't up to this conversation.

"Couldn't get the password from one of your students?" Snape asked, changing his tone, "Or did you not have time to communicate with your mate?" He bared his yellow, crooked teeth as he grinned malevolently.

Remus sighed, suddenly feeling like the day was never going to end. "Whatever you say, Severus," he answered, sounding defeated. He didn't want to argue; he just wanted to see his daughter and go to sleep. But it had been the wrong thing to say to the man who still held a boyhood grudge.

Without a word, he advanced on Remus and jabbed his wand at his throat. "Confess now," he whispered with suppressed rage, "and I'll spare the girl."

The last words hit a raw nerve. Before he even realized he'd moved, he was inches from Snape's shocked face, his hand twisted around his throat, and the Potions professor was slammed up against the wall.

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Sophie fell with a hard thump onto the grimy wooden hearth in what was supposed to be the sitting room of the Shrieking Shack. She jumped up quickly, her eyes darting around the dark, creaky room when she heard the unmistakable sound of a door closing. She ran to the front door and pulled it open, her sense run away with her reason, and she spotted the distinct outline of the ginger cat creeping through the grass towards the village. But there was no sign of Black in the still and quiet night.

Where is he? she wondered. Where has he gone?

She took a few tentative steps out of the hand – me – down refuge, when she felt a sudden chill like a single, frozen bead of water sliding down her spine. She heard Crookshanks suddenly spit and hiss and saw the shadow of the cat streak across her path. She didn't have to turn and look to know what had frightened the feline but still something compelled her to do just that.

If she'd been in her animal form, her fur would have stood up on end as she spotted half a dozen Dementors sweeping towards her up the hill. Ascending faster from the village below, their collective rattling breath seemed to wail in her ears like a siren.

Run! her sense told her, but she couldn't move. Her feet were rooted to the spot and the bravery that she'd had on the train, facing a single creature as it hunted for prey, had evaporated as an overwhelming feeling of despair washed over her. She dropped to her knees and began to sob as every negative emotion that she'd bottled up for months coursed through her like adrenaline. She fought desperately to keep her head as they closed in on her. "No!" she tried to scream, though it came out as a strangled cry. "Noooo!"

Suddenly, out of the darkness, the black shaggy dog came bounding towards her. It clamped onto her arm, sending a sudden shock of pain through her and bringing her to her senses. She scrambled to her feet as the dog barked madly, took hold of a pant leg and pulled her back towards the house. She almost fell over but regained her balance quickly and threw herself across the threshold of the Shrieking Shack.

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"Don't you ever threaten my daughter!" he hissed, the taunts from the man in the bar fresh in his mind. He had a sudden thought as he stared into the former Slytherin's wide eyes that he had probably tipped of the DFDL about him and Sophie.

"L - let g -go!" Snape's voice was a hoarse, desperate wheeze.

Remus suddenly realized what he was doing. Horrified, he dropped his hand and backed away. Snape slumped to the ground, rubbed his neck and coughed violently. Feeling guilty and ashamed, he stepped towards his colleague to offer a hand. Snape, still coughing, grabbed for his wand and in one swift motion shot a stinging hex at his head. It grazed his shoulder, causing a nasty sensation to shoot through his arm. He grabbed his shoulder, stumbled back and hit the opposite wall.

He watched as Snape pointed his wand at him again and he knew he wouldn't be able to dodge it. I deserve it, he thought numbly seconds before the spell hit him squarely in the chest.

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Sophie sat panting and bleeding with her back against the front door, the dog leaning heavily on it beside her. The negative emotions that had gripped her like panic were slowly ebbing away and she realized that the Dementors were retreating. A few minutes later, her breathing normal, she knew they were gone. But why? she thought, confused. Why didn't they just force their way in?

The dog whimpered to get her attention and moved towards the stairs as if beckoning her to follow.

"No," she said firmly, despite her jangled nerves. "Show yourself. I already know who you are."

She didn't know what to expect but she sat slumped against the wall holding her injured arm in her hand with steely resolution. The seconds ticked by as the pale – eyed dog looked at her with curious eyes. Then it happened. All at once the dog transformed into a man, who stood tall and ragged and so thin and frail – looking, she could hardly believe the man and the bear of a dog were one in the same.

"Are you simple?" was the first thing out of his mouth.

Sophie was taken aback.

"I asked you a question," he croaked. His voice sounded like he'd been choked repeatedly.

"Are you?" she shot back.

He looked at her, his grey eyes gleaming, as he tilted his head to the side as if she were a puzzle he was trying to fit together. Then he smiled.

"What are doing here?" His voice seemed harsh but slightly softer. The smile was gone.

"Isn't it obvious," she answered, unnerved by the friendly gesture. She was suddenly aware that she was face – to – face with the Sirius Black. The implications of that were staggering.

"You could have been killed," he said plainly.

"Well now you can finish the job." She knew it was foolish to taunt the man in any way but she had already gone too far to back down.

"Get up," he said, turning away and walking to the back of the house towards the tunnel.

She couldn't fathom why he was acting so oddly with her – smiling and turning his back as if he was sure she wouldn't attack. Surely a man like him wouldn't trust anyone. Surely this man, a Death Eater, would have done away with her by now, or let the Dementors do it for him. Instead, he had now saved her twice.

She got to her feet and followed. As she crept a fair distance behind him, confused by his actions and her own inaction, a familiar voice began to whisper in her head. You know why, it growled with satisfaction. You know why he's not afraid – It's because of me.

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"That was really very foolish of the both of you," Minerva said as she guided Remus back to her office.

"I know," he answered, feeling ashamed, "I'm sorry."

McGonagall had happened upon the dueling pair as they nursed their wounds and their pride. She'd expressed her shock at them both and Snape, having regained his oily tone and some composure, had slunk away, looking more livid than ever.

She stopped and looked up to face him. "Remus," she said, her voice kind and gentle, "you've no need to apologize to me." She shifted his weight as he leaned on her shoulder and resumed the slow walk down the deserted corridor. "I'm aware what Severus thinks of you, and I remember the animosity between the five of you – " She stopped abruptly.

Remus pulled away to better look at her. "It's fine, Minerva," he said, remembering to use her first name as she'd asked. He knew that she had been affected greatly by the tragedy twelve years ago as well. "And you're right, there was animosity between us as boys, but we should have been able to get past it by now." He had so wanted that to be true.

"I doubt that Severus will make it easy," she replied, "but for both your sakes you have to try." There was no judgment in her tone. It made Remus feel slightly better.

"I will," he said as they approached her office door.

"Good," she said, giving him a small smile, "Now let's get you cleaned up. You wouldn't want anyone to see you like this." She led him over the threshold and placed him on a hard wooden chair.

Despite her kind words, guilt and shame were eating away at him. And to top it all, the voice that had been so clear inside his head – the voice of the wolf that always prowled inside him – was still present. You should have let me snap his neck, it seemed to whisper in his ear. You should have let me do it. Then he'd never threaten our cub again.

"Minerva," he said, trying to drown out the voice in his head with his own as she dabbed at the cut on the back of his head, "I think I should be the one to tell Dumbledore." He knew it had to come from him.

Her eyebrows shot up. "Why's that?" she asked, sounding and looking like the stern professor he remembered.

"I – I just think it would be better coming from me." He didn't want to think of the disappointment on Dumbledore's face when he found out. He didn't want to think of the consequences.

"I wasn't planning to tell him, Remus," she stated as she waved her wand over his head. He felt the cut being mended. "And I don't think it would benefit either one of you to let him know."

He couldn't believe it. McGonagall was actually offering to cover up for him. He sat silently, the voice subsided, as she finished vanishing away the telltale signs of a scuffle on his clothing, including the singe marks on his chest from the very effective stingin hex Snape had shot his way. He thought of the right thing to say.

"Thank you," was all he could come up with. He knew it fell short.

She looked down at him, smiled and nodded her head once in understanding. "Your welcome," she answered. "Now off you go, before your daughter climbs up the walls waiting for you."

He leapt up, suddenly remembering Sophie's worried face as he left his office. He thanked her again hastily and, limbs aching, bounded up the stairs. He was sure she would be angry when he got there. He only hoped she could understand. He only hoped she could forgive him.

Yes, the night continues in the next chapter. Here's a preview:

'Sirius could feel her amber eyes burning into the back of his head as he led Remus' daughter back down the tunnel towards the castle. He wondered if she was trying Legilimency on him but couldn't remember if he'd learned it at Hogwarts or not. Maybe his parents had taught him? No, he thought bitterly, they'd have never bothered. It irked him that he couldn't remember. Some memories were so clear to him now, but others...'

Next chapter, titled, 'I'm Your Villain' coming very soon!