The Lines We Cross - Chapter Twelve
Remus woke to the pleasurable sensation of a warm mouth kissing and licking the skin below his bellybutton. His shirt was bunched up and a curious hand was tracing circles on his inner thigh, brushing teasingly close to his cock which was beginning to take interest.
He buried his hand in silky hair, "Mmmm" being the most coherent thought he could voice. The mouth, which was alternating between kisses and licking bites, laughed against his skin, warm breath ghosting across his belly.
"Remus…" a husky voice said from beneath the covers. Remus felt his hips thrust gently of their own accord, the wandering hand on his thigh travelling up and dipping two fingers into the waistband of his pyjamas and running them back and forth. Tease.
"Oh God, Sirius…"
Sirius?
"Sirius!" Remus cried, pulling the covers back to reveal the dark-haired boy, his tongue sticking out to lap at Remus's stomach, laughing eyes darting up to meet his.
"Morning," he said softly and buried his nose in Remus's stomach and breathed in deeply. "Oh, Remus, you smell so good…"
"Sirius! Stop!" Remus practically shrieked as he tried to push Sirius away as gently as possible.
"Mmm, not so loud, love. M'head still hurts a little."
"Remus?" a voice called from beyond the bedroom. The two young men stared at each other, their eyes wide. "Are you awake?"
"It's Dumbledore," Remus whispered. "Stay here. Don't come out." Remus rose from the bed and donned his robe from the night before. He spared Sirius one last nervous glance before exiting his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Dumbledore's head was in the fire. "Ah, there you are. Good morning, Remus. I'm so sorry to bother you on a Saturday."
"It's alright, Headmaster. Is everything okay?"
"Just fine, Remus, thank you. Is Mr. Black still with you? There are some people in my office here to see him."
"Sirius?"
"Yes, Minerva went to retrieve him from Gryffindor Tower this morning and Mr. Potter told her he was with you. Is he still there?"
"Yes, sir, he is."
"Could you send him through please?"
"Of course."
"I'll leave the floo open. Oh, and, Remus?" Remus, who had turned to head back into the bedroom, looked back towards the fire. "We'll have a chat about this later this afternoon. Your office."
"Yes, sir," Remus said as the man's head disappeared from the fire. A nervous weight dropped unpleasantly into his stomach and he suddenly had the urge to be sick. He entered the room to find Sirius in the middle of dressing. The vial containing the hangover potion was empty on the night stand. He had his trousers on and was buttoning his shirt over the t-shirt Remus gave him to wear last night.
"I heard you two talking," he said. "Do you think we're in very much trouble?"
"I don't know."
"It will be okay, Remus." Sirius checked his hair in the mirror, running his hands through it a few times before shrugging. "Taking after Potter this morning. Oh well." He gave up on the mirror and gave Remus a long, lingering kiss. "In case you're sacked later," he explained and kissed him again. He watched Sirius disappear through the emerald flames the unpleasant feeling slowly morphing into something like dread.
oOo
"Ah, Mr. Black, thank you for coming," Dumbledore said when he stepped out of the floo. The Headmaster was seated at his desk across from two serious looking wizards in pinstriped robes. Sirius started to get an inkling of what this was about but wasn't sure if he was ready to deal with it just yet. "Please have a seat." Dumbledore conjured a comfortable looking chair beside himself and indicated Sirius should sit. "Tea?" he asked politely.
"No thank you, sir," he said, not trusting his hands to be still with the delicate cup.
"Sirius, allow me to introduce our two guests, Mr. Franklin Havard and Mr. Isaac Holms. They are—"
"Representatives for the House of Black, I know," he said his suspicions confirmed. He'd received a rather official looking owl shortly after leaving home stamped with the Havard and Holms seal telling him he'd been summarily disinherited from the Black family fortune for good, and to make no attempts at contacting the family.
"Yes, well if you know who we are then you must know why we are here," the man on the right began. He had a rather voluptuous moustache that Sirius might have found impressive if he did not look absolutely ridiculous on the man's thin face.
"I can only assume to settle my uncle's affairs."
"Precisely," the other man said. He was broader than the other man and was completely bald. Sirius entertained the idea of removing the moustache from the thin man and placing it atop the bald man's head and tried not to giggle at the picture his head made. The bald man addressed Dumbledore, "Headmaster, you've been more than kind to allow us to meet with Mr. Black on such short notice but this is private business."
"Why do I feel as though you are trying to kick me out of my own office?"
"We just hoped you would offer us a bit of privacy to discuss these sensitive matters. I did not wish to be so blunt as to ask you to leave."
"And yet that is precisely what you've done. At any rate, I cannot allow you to discuss this matter with Mr. Black alone. Sirius is still a student of my school. Not only that but you gentlemen are here representing the House of Black, which Sirius is no longer a part of. Therefore I do not feel you are here representing his best interests. As such, I should like to fill that role, if you will allow me that is," he inclined his head to Sirius.
Sirius, for one, was never more grateful for the old man's ability to meddle in other people's affairs. He nodded. "Yes, sir, thank you."
"Very well," Baldy continued. "I hold in my hand the last will and testament of Mr. Alphard D. Black." He produced a roll of parchment from a briefcase.
Sirius gave a sharp intake of breath. The man spoke of Alphard so casually that it sent an icy shard of pain through his heart. A warm hand patted his knee gently and he was again grateful for Dumbledore's presence.
"It would seem Mr. Black has left you everything." He held out the scroll for Sirius to take but Dumbledore leaned over to take it himself. The man glared at Dumbledore but the Headmaster remained oblivious as he unfurled the scroll and began reading.
"By everything," Mr. Moustache continued, "that includes a rather sizable bank vault at Gringotts, his London townhome as well as the country cottage in Somerset, and all his most recent research."
Sirius was surprised by the last one—well all of it really—but his research? What would Sirius do with that? Dumbledore hummed beside him as he continued to read.
"The bank vault has already transitioned to your name, if you present this letter," Baldy produced a sealed envelope from the file and handed it to Sirius; Dumbledore made no attempts to take it, "You'll be given a key to the vault. The properties are another matter, however, as is Mr. Black's research."
Dumbledore continued to read but Sirius thought he was listening attentively all the same. "You see, while Mr. Black may have had your best interests at heart, the properties were not his to bequeath. The London townhome and the cottage in Somerset belong to the House of Black, of which—as Dumbledore has reminded us—you are no longer a part of. Mrs. Walburga Black has already petitioned to have the properties transferred to her name, as she is the eldest sibling."
The grief that had settled in Sirius's heart instantly turned to rage. That bitch. Alphard was hardly cold in his grave and she was already fighting over money? He felt an angry retort on his lips but Dumbledore placed a restraining hand on his on his forearm. Above him he heard one of the portraits give a nasty snicker. Nigellus. Sirius glared at the portrait of his great-great-grandfather but Nigellus simply raised and elegant brown and smirked.
"I'm afraid I have to disagree, gentleman. This indicates the properties in question were transitioned to Sirius under title 113, a property law that recently overturned some of the more, shall we say, archaic Wizarding laws which prevented the estates of pureblooded families from falling into less worthy hands."
"That law is being called into question."
"And has very little chance of being repealed."
"That maybe your opinion, Dumbledore, but with the current uncertainty we find ourselves in, we feel it is prudent to offer a compromise."
"I don't see what there is to compromise on," Sirius said, surprising the two men. "Uncle Alphard left me those properties, and, if what the Headmaster says is true, and I have every confidence it is, then by right they're mine. You can tell that bitch to go to hell."
"Really!" cried Nigellus. "Such disrespect!"
"Phineas, kindly stay out of this," Dumbledore chided.
"Can't imagine where his parents went wrong—"
"I will not ask you again, Phineas." Dumbledore glared at the portrait. Sirius stuck his tongue out at his grandfather who huffed and stalked off, disappearing through the side of the frame. "Sirius, I must ask you to mind your language. Mr. Havard and Mr. Holms have been completely cordial thus far, if not woefully misguided.
"We are not misguided! Mr. Black," Moustache turned to look directly at Sirius. "Despite what the Headmaster thinks, that property law is being called into question. Should it be repealed your parents would have every right to sue you for those properties. Your uncle left you a considerable amount of gold but a legal battle with the full might of the Black fortune on your parent's side would drain your resources significantly. Mrs. Black has agreed to allow you to keep the cottage in Somerset, if you're willing to give up the London townhome."
Sirius wasn't sure what to do. In truth, he didn't care a fig for either house. The cottage was always nice during summer, he recalled fondly, but there were too many memories of adventures with Regulus for him to feel too nostalgic without also feeling desperately lonely. He doubted the place held much adventure now. The townhome was grand, but modeled too much after his family home at Grimmauld Place. Still, he'd burn the houses to the ground before he let his mother have her way this one last time.
"Gentlemen, I appreciate your warning but I'm afraid I must decline your offer," Sirius gave his best aristocratic impression and Dumbledore chuckled softy beside him.
"We regret that you're not willing to be more cooperative. If you'll just sign here," Baldy said producing a long parchment and indicating at the bottom where Sirius should sign. Dumbledore stayed his hand as he reached for the quill to read over his shoulder.
"Go ahead," he said after a moment. Sirius signed with a flourish.
"There's that," Baldy said and placed the parchment back in the briefcase. "Now we come to the matter of Mr. Black's personal research. The Potion Master's Guild has no legal rights to this research, as it was all done independently and with non-Ministry funds. They are asking that you consider turning it over to them, as it can only benefit those in that field and you would probably have no use for it."
"Sirius, it is, of course, up to you, but I would strongly encourage you to hold onto that research, for now," Dumbledore said giving Sirius a meaningful look.
"It's no matter to us, we do not service the PMG and the research is incomplete. Mr. Black deposited the research into his vault shortly before his death and it shall remain there until you collect it. If you'll sign here," another parchment was shoved before him. Dumbledore nodded that Sirius should sign and he handed the parchment back.
"That concludes our business for today. Thank you, Mr. Black. Headmaster. Copies of the paperwork will be placed in your vault at Gringotts. Good day." Both men rose to leave.
"I'll see you out," Dumbledore said also rising. "Sirius, if you would please stay for just a moment." Sirius also stood to leave but stopped at Dumbledore's request. He was tired and hungry and wanted to get back to his bed or, even better, Remus's.
"Yes, sir," he flopped into one of the chairs Baldy or Moustach vacated. He watched as Dumbledore led the two men down the spiral staircase.
"Your mother's just blasted Alphard off the tapestry."
Sirius looked up at Nigellus who had returned from his portrait at Grimmauld Place.
"Whatever."
"Watch your tone with me, young man! Dumbledore might tolerate your impertinence but I will not."
"Because there is so much you can do about it, being a portrait and all," Sirius said, sarcasm dripping from each word.
"How dare you, you ungrateful little wretch! Your mother ought to have strangled you at birth. I always said you'd be nothing but trouble."
"Too bad she didn't!" Sirius yelled jumping to his feet, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'm sure everyone would be much happier if I were dead, wouldn't they?"
"Stop being so dramatic. Idiot boy—"
"Enough!" Dumbledore ordered as he re-entered the room. "Phineas, I will not tolerate you speaking to my students this way, family or not."
"Hear, hear! Lay off the poor boy!" a witch from another portrait called. "He's obviously upset." There was a chorus of agreement from the other portraits of "leave him alone" and "keep out of it, Black" and Nigellus looked quite taken aback.
"Outnumbered it seems," Nigellus sniffed. "Fine, I know when I'm not wanted," and he stalked off again.
"Twat," Sirius muttered and dropped back into the chair his blood still pounding in his ears. Dumbledore sat himself back in his chair behind the desk.
"I want to thank you for allowing me to assist you with Havard and Holms. I feared they might try to take advantage of your youth and ignorance in Wizarding law."
"No, thank you, Headmaster."
"I should like the opportunity to review your uncle's research, if you would not mind. If he was using private funding, it may not be, strictly speaking, legal. Nothing against Alphard," he said quickly catching Sirius's glare. "He was far from a Death Eater sympathizer, but I would like to take precautions."
"You think it could be something dark?"
"I think he had a good reason for keeping the Ministry and Potion Master's Guild out of the loop," Dumbledore said delicately.
"Sure, you can look at it, not sure what I'd do with it anyway."
"Thank you, Sirius. Now, I must ask if you're feeling alright." His tone was suddenly less business like and much kinder. "Mr. Potter informed us you were not quite yourself last night."
"Understatement of the year. I don't quite remember most of it to be honest," which was no lie. Up until he took the sobering draught things were very fuzzy. He felt of flush of warmth pool in his lower body as he recalled some of the less fuzzy details during the latter half of the evening.
"Lucky then, that Professor Lupin took pity on you."
"Yeah Remus is…erm Professor Lupin, he's great."
Dumbledore smiled at the slip up. "I've known Remus since he was quite young. I'm glad that you two have become close, he has not had very many friends."
"Why is that? He's a nice bloke."
Dumbledore surveyed Sirius for a long moment; his blue eyes piercing Sirius in a way that made him try very hard not to squirm.
"That is his secret to tell," the Headmaster said at last. "Life has not always been kind to Remus I am afraid. Please, do not be offended if he is slow to trust. He will tell you when he's ready."
"I suppose…er, was that all, Professor? I could really do with something to eat."
"Of course, go on. I'll send an owl about your uncle's research."
Sirius nodded and hurried out of the Headmaster's office and down towards the kitchens. He was just reaching up to run his fingers along the pear when the portrait swung open and James Potter stepped out carrying a delicious smelling basket.
"Sirius! I was just coming to find you." He held up the basket. "Thought you might be hungry."
"A picnic? How lovely, Jamie!" Sirius teased.
"Hey if that's the thanks I get for thinking of your sorry arse you can forget about it!"
"You're the best friend a disinherited blood-traitor could have, you know that?" Sirius asked, throwing an arm around his friend's shoulder and planting a kiss in his wild hair.
"Bloody girl. Let's go on our picnic," said James, linking arms with Sirius and marching off.
oOo
"Wow," James said after Sirius finished explaining the morning's events in detail. "I mean, I know your uncle liked you but I didn't know he liked you that much."
"Thanks," Sirius said throwing a crust of toast into messy black hair. They were sitting at the window again, munching on the contents of the basket, which were filled with all of his favorite things. Bless you, James Potter.
"Not saying you're not likeable or anything. Nearly everyone likes you. Even Lupin." Sirius said nothing, just continued picking at his toast. James continued. "Can't believe he let your drunk arse terrorize him last night."
"Remus is cool," he said simply.
"So it's Remus now, is it?" James asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Did you two have a nice time, all alone, after me and Pete left? Earning some extra credit now, Black?"
"Don't be gross, Potter."
"Why not? It's the truth isn't it?" he asked and his voice was devoid of all humor. "You fancy him, don't you?" Sirius just stared at his friend, who smiled and shook his head in an exasperated manner. "I'm far more observant than people give me credit for. I got curious about all those supposed ladies you were meeting in secret so I followed you in the cloak one night."
Silence seemed to be the best option. So far, James only knew Sirius hung out with Remus on a regular basis.
"Imagine my surprise. Resident trouble maker Sirius Black turned teacher's pet. 'Can't be!' says I! Then you forgot to put a silencing charm on your curtains one night and it all fell into place."
Fuck. Remus featured almost exclusively in his late night wanking sessions. He was usually good about putting up the charm but he supposed it was possible he was too befuddled by the goings on between his legs one night and could have forgot.
"James…"
"Well now, that wasn't quite the name you were calling that night, and thank Merlin because it was quite shocking enough. Hey," he said, putting a hand on Sirius's shoulder. Sirius had been gripping the window seat tightly but he let go at the touch. He looked up into his friend's smiling face. "I'm not saying I understand it, Sirius, honestly, I still don't know what to think, but if you're happy…this way…then I'm happy for you."
The weight of carrying his secret around lifted from his shoulders with that simple touch. It was amazing how much lighter he felt now that the feeling was gone. When had he grown so accustomed to it? James was still smiling and his hand was still resting calmly on Sirius's shoulder.
"Thanks, James. You really are the best friend a bloke could ask for."
"Yeah, okay, enough fruity stuff, no offence intended of course. I'm missing Quidditch practice for you. Wanna come with?"
"A chance to ogle your arse while you fly around on your fantastic broomstick? How could I resist?" James floundered for a full minute, his hand rumpling his hair messily, before he realized Sirius was laughing at him.
"Wanker."
oOo
Sirius had waved James off saying he didn't feel up for watching Quidditch, he was still tired and just wanted a nice long nap but after several minutes of tossing and turning he decided a walk might be nice after all. Could he help it if his feet began pounding the well-known path to Remus's office? Certainly not, he thought shamelessly.
If Sirius were one for skipping he would have danced through the halls on his way to see Remus. He loves me. His heart was soaring. He loves me, he loves me, he loves me! Sirius felt stupid with happiness. He could not stop thinking about the night before. How Remus had kissed him. Touched him. It was such a new feeling, this sort of happiness. He smiled to himself and quickened his pace.
When he arrived at the office he knocked and waited, plastering his most seductive smile on his face. When the door opened he looked up into the gentle blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore and not Remus Lupin. He felt his jaw drop a little and a blush creep across his cheeks.
"Er, hello, Professor," he said awkwardly.
"Mr. Black, lovely to see you again. I take it you are here to see Professor Lupin?" he asked jovially, stepping back and gesturing Sirius in. Remus was seated at his desk, his eyes downcast, but they darted up quickly to look at Sirius. He flashed Remus a smile but it was not returned. "I was just taking my leave. Remus, thank you for seeing me; you both have a good day."
Dumbledore strode from the room closing the door quietly behind him. Sirius could tell something was very wrong. Remus would not meet his eye.
"So, does Dumbledore suspect anything?" he asked after several long moments of tense silence.
"No, he doesn't suspect." Remus stood and moved to stand by the window, his arms crossing and uncrossing in an agitated manner.
"That's good then, right?" Sirius asked coming up beside the other man, the need to be close overcoming any misgivings at his odd behavior. He placed a hand on Remus's shoulder but Remus shrugged it off.
"He doesn't suspect, Sirius, he knows."
"How can he possibly know?"
"I told him."
"Why?" Sirius asked, nonplussed.
"I didn't have much of a choice. He would have found out eventually anyway. I'd rather admit to the some what tame activities of last night then allow him to continue to think we've done…are doing…anything more."
"Are you in trouble?"
Remus snorted at the question. "No, Sirius, no house points were deducted and I'll not have to serve any detentions. Legally speaking we've done nothing wrong because you're of age, but that doesn't mean it was right either."
"It felt right to me," Sirius said, surprising himself with his blatant honestly. He felt his face grow hot as Remus stared at him, an unusual expression on his normally kind, serene face. Was it pity? His stomach churned unpleasantly and his arms felt awkward hanging down at his sides. "Don't you…didn't you feel it too?" he asked.
Remus was silent for what seemed like ages and Sirius felt his heart shutter to a stop. Several years later to Sirius—when in reality it was less than a minute—his brown eyes softened and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yes, love, I did."
And Sirius could breathe again. He felt himself smile and he reached out again to touch. Remus allowed the touch this time and Sirius pressed his advantage, running fingers lightly through soft, brown hair and leaning forward to kiss. Their lips slid together slowly and he would have liked more but Remus placed a gentle hand on his chest and pushed him away after a minute.
"We can't do this," he said, his hand still resting on Sirius's chest. Sirius opened his mouth to argue but Remus held up his hand. "Please, let me get this out." Whatever Remus had to say, Sirius was sure he was not going to like it, but he nodded and remained silent. "Regardless of how we may feel, we cannot carry on a relationship. I am still a professor here, despite what happened last night, and having an affair with a student would be incredibly inappropriate."
"I don't care," Sirius said, unable to remain silent.
"I care," Remus said firmly, the gentleness from a moment ago gone, along with the hand. "Sirius, you disregard and defy convention like it's your personal mission but some of us need to be a little more careful. I can't be caught having an affair with a student! Even if you are of age, all people will see is a professor and a student and the judgment will be cast. I have enough difficulty in my personal life without adding this to it."
"So that's all I'd be then? A difficulty for you?"
"Stop acting like a child, you know what I mean."
"I love you."
The words hung in the air and seemed to echo loudly throughout the room. He remembered saying it the night before but he had still been drunk on firewhiskey and they were both drunk on post-coital bliss. Nothing said in the throes of passion could be taken at face value. Nevertheless, Sirius knew he meant it before the words left his lips. He loved Remus Lupin.
"You said…last night you said you loved me too. Is it true?" he asked desperately.
"Yes, but—"
"Then what else matters?"
"You hardly know me," Remus protested, his cheeks flushed.
"I know, but I want to, if you'd just let me in."
"I can't, Sirius. I'm sorry." Remus took several steps back, looking away from Sirius. It was amazing how much it hurt to hear Remus say it. After everything, Remus did not trust him. Refused to open himself up and let Sirius in.
"What are you so afraid of? Remus, if we're ever going to be together you need trust me."
"We're not going to be together," Remus said flatly. "Sirius, you're a bright boy, please get it through your head. This. Is. Not. Happening," he said, punctuating every word. There was no trace of kindness in his eyes any longer and his mouth made a hard line. "I'm sorry but I am the responsible one here and that—that is the final word."
Sirius did not realize how much he'd been counting on this thing with Remus until it was suddenly taken from him. He carried his joy and excitement at beginning something that promised to be amazing with Remus like a talisman against everything that was crashing down around him. His bubble of safety burst and all the pain and fear he'd experienced in the last twenty-four hours came rushing in like a violent tide. He felt his whole body shaking and knew if he didn't leave immediately he was going to do something very stupid, like cry or drop to his knees and beg Remus to have him, or quite possibly both. Without another word Sirius turned and fled.
He wasn't sure what hurt more, Remus telling him they were not going to be together or the way he said absolutely nothing to stop Sirius from leaving. A small part of his heart hoped that Remus would call out, tell him to wait. Don't go. The other man's silence rang loudly in his ears as he tore from the office, away from the crushing disappointment that he would not be able to outrun.
oOo
The look on Sirius's face as he ran from his office was almost enough to break Remus. There was a part of him that wanted to go after him, to bring him back and ask him never to leave. It took every thing inside him to keep from calling out to him as he left. He knew he was doing the right thing.
It was true, of course, that the stigma of being caught in an inappropriate affair with a student would be devastating, not only to his reputation, but to the school's and Dumbledore's. Dumbledore vouched for Remus, had needed to persuade the governors to allow Remus to teach due to his age and lack of experience, his lycanthropy notwithstanding. If it were to come out that Remus was having sex with a student, he would be sacked, and Dumbledore would have a lot to answer for. There was enough going on the world outside that Dumbledore was managing without piling that on top, just because Remus could not control himself.
As for his own reputation, well that wouldn't have been such a big deal really. The places that would refuse to employ him because they'd heard he had an affair with a student would also refuse to employ him because he was a werewolf; the options he was limited to would not know or care about any inappropriate business while he was a teacher so long as he showed up on time and didn't complain about the low pay. Had it not been for his concern over how his behavior would reflect on Dumbledore he might have gone for it.
Remus was unsure what to expect from his meeting with Dumbledore, but the Headmaster had been sympathetic.
"I am the last person in the world who would come between two people in love," he'd said, causing Remus to falter inelegantly.
"Who's said anything about love?" he asked, wiping dribbling tea from his chin.
Dumbledore simply smiled and gave him a knowing look. "Are you telling me you brought Mr. Black to your bed for a casual fling?"
"I didn't bring him to my bed!" he said, blushing furiously. "Things just…got out of hand."
"Remus, you are both adults, what you do behind closed doors should be nobody else's business. However, if someone were to find out about your, ah shall we say, relationship with Mr. Black, then there could be problems. Students would tell their parents, we would probably be unable to keep it out of the Prophet, especially considering the student in question. It would be a nice little scandal for quite some time I imagine."
"Don't worry about it, sir. It's not going to continue. I never meant for it to happen in the first place. I knew how he felt about me and I've not been good at discouraging him I'm afraid."
"And how do you feel, Remus?" his mentor asked, quite seriously.
Smitten? his brain supplied unhelpfully. Besotted? Obsessed? He recalled the serene, sleeping face of the boy the night before and the powerful emotions he evoked in Remus. Yes, he was layers deep in love with Sirius Black.
"How I feel is irrelevant. I have to end it."
"You should not be so quick to throw it away, Remus."
"Why do you sound as though you're encouraging this? It can't possibly work. I'm too old for him…too broken."
"Are you even giving it a chance?"
"Albus…"
"Remus, I would just like to see you happy. I am not saying this should continue now." He leveled a meaningful look at Remus. "The school year will be over in a few short months. Mr. Black is one of the few students I intend to ask to join the Order once they are done with NEWTs. You may end up seeing a lot of him."
"Albus, they're far too young for all of that!"
"Once they leave the halls of this school I can no longer protect them, but I can help them to protect themselves and others. No one is forced to join, you know that."
Sirius showed up then. If he had been given more time to consider what Dumbledore said, the conversation might have gone a little differently. As it was, all Remus could see was young, beautiful, whole, Sirius Black with his entire life shining brightly in front of him. His own future did not look so promising. No, it promised to be cold and dark and lonely. Why would he even consider leading Sirius down that path with him?
