Unleashed
Chatper Title: Apples and Oranges
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything you recognize.
Notes: Thanks to my glorius Beta read; Bad Wolf 42! You have done and continue to do such a great job. I love you!
hint I love feed back /hint
'What's going on?' Kenneth asked Sirius as he joined the man beside the door to the kitchen. Sirius jumped slightly as he came up behind him he hadn't heard him coming at all.
Originally, he'd been drawn down the stairs by the need for food. It wasn't several days after the full moon, and he'd really been eating nonstop like he'd had some massive purge on the night. He wanted an apple. Molly had come back from visiting her home, the Burrow, with a huge box of gorgeous red apples for Grimmauld Place. And they were delicious, they didn't just look appetising, they tasted it, too. But he'd been lulled down by the sound of two voices that he couldn't recognize at all and Molly shouting her brains off as the unknown voices took turns answering her quite calmly. He'd met Sirius at the kitchen door, not needing to press his ear to the door to hear the raging argument going on inside with a look of interest and possibly amusement on his face.
'The twins have come back,' Sirius said, hushing him with a hand, though he really didn't need to as the shouting was loud enough to be heard in the attic. 'I think they might have left school. There was something about an education left in vain.'
'You mean the Weasley twins?' Kenneth asked. 'Fred and George?'
Sirius nodded.
'You've left school,' Molly said quite calmly at first, but Kenneth could imagine her face bright red and puffed with anger like a blowfish. Kenneth let out a soft snigger, and Sirius, who'd obviously been thinking something similar snorted, 'for the joke shop?'
'Yeah,' said one of the twins proudly and simply.
Kenneth couldn't distinguish between their voices as he'd only heard one of them speak, but he was sure that once he heard both voices he should be able to. He could smell them though, they both smelt like fireworks, and Molly smelt like home and cinnamon like she always did.
'The joke shop,' the other said simply and much to Kenneth's dismay he found that he couldn't tell the twins apart from their voices, and they smelt exactly the same. He liked to know who was who. 'Look, mother dearest,' the one who'd spoken second continued. 'It's tiring business leaving the school in a way that will make a lasting impression.'
'So, if you don't mind ...' the one who'd spoken first added in perfect timing after his twin.
'As a matter of fact!' Molly shouted at them so loudly that it could have been easily mistaken as a shriek. 'I do mind! –'
The twins cut off her artistically as if they'd had years and years of practise, which they probably had. 'We've got it all worked out.'
'It's going to be bloody brilliant.'
There was a huffing type of sigh that only a mother could make that echoed out and reached both Sirius's and Kenneth's ears perfectly, though there was a difference in senses. Kenneth was sure he heard either Fred or George snort with amusement at how much Molly hated what they were doing. Kenneth reckoned that if he had ever been to school and dropped out early like the twins had to peruse something uncommon as they were, his mother would have his arse for dinner. His father would have been pissed as well but let his wife do all the talking for him. His parents were very much like Arthur and Molly, except Kenneth's father was much sterner.
'That's right, Fred,' the other twin said.
'Going back to school would ruin our grand exit, mum,' Fred said again. 'We can't go back, and besides, our joke shop does await us.'
'Right you are, Fred,' said George sounding so pleased with themselves that Kenneth could almost see the identical smiles on their faces, and he didn't even know what they looked like. 'A joke shop in Diagon Alley.'
Molly suddenly erupted, squawking so loudly, and it was all streaming out in such a rush that Kenneth could barely catch full sentences. He heard words like never, in these times, Merlin's beard, a joke shop, don't you dare, out-raged, disgusted, horrified ... the list went on and on until the sound of the twins laughter could actually be heard over Molly's shouts of indignation. Sirius was right to be listening at the door, it was fairly amusing. With a final shout of something that sounded similar to "until you learn some manners," Molly burst out of the room, red faced and heaving.
'Hello there, Sirius,' she said managing a smile and sent a nod in Kenneth's direction.
He still wasn't trusted by her, and his appearance after the full moon of bringing Remus back unconscious and then collapsing over her husband hadn't improved his standings with her much.
Sirius smiled back and then entered his kitchen. Kenneth scuttled in behind him, eager to meet the twins. The two teenage boys were leaning against the counters, standing very close to each other and seemed to be sharing a conversation between them using just their eyes. They jumped apart slightly when Sirius entered flocked by Kenneth.
Both had the same Weasley hair and had freckles dotted across their noses and high cheekbones – high for such sturdy builds. They shared a body build completely different from Kenneth's thin, lanky and only slightly muscled frame. They were a lot stockier than he was but he had height on them. Both had a tinkle of cheek and mischievous in their eyes, and they grinned when they saw Sirius.
'Some argument,' the ex-inmate commented vaguely as he dove for one of the apples Molly had brought back with her. 'Impressive even.'
Both Fred and George shrugged at the same time, but George had his eyes on Kenneth. 'Yeah,' Fred commented lazily. 'She won't ever appreciate our fine work.'
'Never ever,' George agreed. 'You're the werewolf from the ward, aren't you?' he asked. He nudged Fred. Kenneth was only able to tell who was who from where they stood and the slight difference in their voices he'd picked up from outside the door. Kenneth nodded. 'George,' George said and advanced forward with his hand out for Kenneth to shake it.
'Kenneth,' he replied and shook George's hand. Fred's hand was directly under his nose the second he let go of George's.
'Fred,' the other said with a smile. 'Wouldn't have ever been able to tell it was you if George hadn't noticed. You looked a little green last time we saw you.'
'Glad to know I've regained some of my previous god-like glow,' Kenneth said, smirking himself. George laughed, and Fred nodded, rolling his eyes.
'Joined the Order then?' asked George.
Kenneth nodded. 'Yup.'
'Bet mum wouldn't have been happy about that,' mumbled Fred.
'Not really,' Sirius said as he left the room with what looked like the best apple from the crate. 'Not as annoyed as Severus though, he had a fit.'
'He drugged me with Veritaserum,' Kenneth said with a shrug.
'It was boring,' Sirius said dismally. 'Honestly, I was expecting some great confession rather than just finding out that he knows the cupboard Malfoy, Inez.'
The twins didn't take this as amounting to much. The expressions on their faces showed they had very little idea who Inez Malfoy was. Not many people knew her in the Malfoy house, she wasn't very well known as being a Death Eater or anything of the sort. But now Kenneth didn't know. From the way she'd talked to him many weeks ago, nearly a month to the day, she sounded like her views had turned fast. It frightened Kenneth; he wasn't going to lie to himself about that; it had scared him somewhat.
'Been on any missions yet?' George asked.
At that moment, Remus entered and greeted the boys, commenting about the explosive noises coming from Molly. Kenneth with little regard to the fact Sirius was still in the kitchen, and almost acting like he'd completely forgotten that fact – for a minute he might have, pulled Remus against him. Chest to back and rested his hand on the man's slim waist giving him a quick hug before releasing him. It was something he just did without realizing what he'd done until it was over. He didn't think it was the wolf; it was probably just himself playing around without thinking beforehand. He flushed as he noticed Fred peering with his head cocked to one side at Sirius and Remus and George with his head cocked to the other side and observing Kenneth.
'No, not yet,' Kenneth said in answer to George's question and in order to break the ice had settled really rather quickly. 'Unless Dumbledore's told Remus about a mission. I'm supposed to go with Remus on them.'
'Two werewolves,' George said, 'makes sense.'
'It's not like they send a pair of Weasleys on missions like that though,' Fred said to his twin.
'Well, it'd give away cover, wouldn't it?' George replied, swatting gently at his brother's arm. 'We'd all be far too easy to identify. There's a Weasley, here's a Weasley.'
'Ooh,' Fred commented as he looked over to the bench crowded with not just apples but other vegetables and ingredients. 'What's the occasion?'
'An Order meeting,' said Remus. 'Most of the Order, not everyone. Kingsley, Tonks, Mad Eye, Bill – think. You'll be able to meet them, Kenneth,' Remus added to him.
The twins hung around for the dinner with other members of the Order later that evening. They stayed well out of their mother's way but took delight when she yelled at them when their paths crossed. Sirius, who obviously didn't get out much found it endlessly amusing and seemed to be wherever the twins were when Molly was around. Kenneth was actually surprised that Sirius and Remus weren't up in either Sirius's or Remus's room, shagging their brains out. He would have thought that would have been the best way to end Sirius's boredom.
But it seemed that after their confessions of love that Kenneth had had the pleasure of listening to for a while, they were taking things slowly. Snail's pace slowly, Kenneth wasn't sure if their lips had even pressed together for longer than four seconds at a time. It was cute though. It was almost like Sirius was still courting Remus. Kenneth probably should have done the same rather than telling Remus he had a crush on him. But he had wanted to start with a drink, slowly as well. It looked as though Remus liked being courted in that sweet way Sirius had.
If something happened between Sirius and Remus, Kenneth would be the first to jump in with his help and ears for Remus. Sirius maybe, he did quite like the man, he was funny in a lingering kind of way.
He always ran his hands along the gnarled wood that made up the banisters as he walked up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Something that he did like about the house was the stairs, they were great to run down and climb up. It was ridiculous for Kenneth to like the stairs as much as he did; it was like he was a child playing with them whenever he went up or down. He just liked the stairs. Remus liked the old, matted rug in the drawing room for the pictures on it, and Kenneth liked the stairs.
'Kenneth.' Sirius was standing outside his bedroom with his arms crossed looking like he was there for some serious business.
'What?' Kenneth asked attempting a smile, but Sirius didn't smile back, so he dropped it. 'Yes?' he asked more politely.
No one was going to waste any time in this discussion, that was easy to see and so was the fact that it was intended to be a serious talk between them. Sirius certainly wasn't wasting any time. 'Do you like Remus?' he asked quickly.
'In what way?' said Kenneth, immediately gaining his somewhat flirty way that he spoke to dart around the answer and to annoy people senseless.
Sirius sighed deeply. 'You know what way I'm talking about. Do you want to get ... into him?'
Kenneth floundered with his answer for a second. Sirius either couldn't find the words or he'd meant to say it like that. 'What an elegant way to put it,' murmured Kenneth.
'Stop sounding so bloody cynical and answer the question!'
'Do I want to get into Remus?' Kenneth repeated the question to himself. 'Well, I do like him.'
'You like him, "want to be with him"?' asked Sirius, his eyebrows knitted together like he was in fierce concentration.
'Yes,' Kenneth said truthfully and innocently hoping Sirius wouldn't punch him in the face. 'I like him.'
The man nodded. 'I thought so,' he said. Kenneth was confused. Sirius now sounded almost relieved that Kenneth had told him that he liked the person he was sort of with. 'It's obvious,' he said. 'The fact you like him is probably as obvious as it was to you that I liked him when you first came here.'
'Oh,' hissed Kenneth. 'Is it that bad - really that obvious?'
Sirius nodded at the same time he rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything else Kenneth was in front of him. 'It's not a problem,' he said. 'I've told Remus I like him, and he chose to be with you, so I don't see any issue here.' He crossed his arms to counter Sirius, who hadn't uncrossed his the entire time they were talking despite his relief.
'You told him?' Sirius asked. 'And he chose me?'
'What, surprised?' Kenneth said suddenly bitter. 'He would have chosen you anyway. Remus said something about having always wanted you in school and stuff like that. He would have chosen you,' Kenneth repeated.
Much to Kenneth's amazement, Sirius was glassy eyed as he told him this. 'Just don't do anything like you do with him in the kitchen again,' Sirius muttered. 'Excuse me,' he added and walked stridently off probably in search of Remus.
Kenneth let out something that was half way between a giggle and a deep sigh. Kenneth slunk into his room that was just a few steps away. So his plans to stop liking Remus in that way were not working, he'd already discovered that, but Sirius told him it was obvious. As obvious as it had been to him that Sirius was basically in love with Remus, which had been one of the first most significant things he noted about the house.
He supposed it was harder to return to just having friendly feelings for Remus because his wolf liked the man as well. Perhaps he did think that he'd been acting like he didn't like Remus and pretending that he'd kept his side of the bargain. But that scene earlier that day in the kitchen where he'd acted out of turn in front of Sirius proved that he probably still was crushing quite heavily on Remus. People couldn't help who they fell in love with, and Kenneth was very happy that his crush was on someone who he could easily fall in love with and wanted to. Just as long as he kept it on the down low everything would be fine. Quixotically, he thought that sooner or later Remus would want to be with him.
'This is the new Order member, Kenneth Webber,' announced Molly as she bustled past Kenneth with a steaming plate of potato's to put down on the table.
The four people looked up at him, all holding very different expressions on their faces. A young girl, probably no older than he was, had a very pretty half smile upon her face as she grinned up at him from underneath her pink bangs. She sat near the end of the table and opposite her was someone Kenneth had seen before.
Mad-Eye Moody sat with his magical eye whizzing around the place and every now and then resting on Kenneth before zooming off again. He was known for his constant vigilance, and Kenneth was nervous about being slipped some more Veritaserum. Or maybe he'd be questioned again. He didn't know who was scarier, Mad-Eye or Snape. They were both frightening in their own way. Mad-Eye, because he was crazy and Snape, because he was forceful and gloomy.
A tall, square black man sat next to Arthur in the centre of the table wearing a Muggle brand suit and tie like he'd just been doing business with a Muggle. They were talking hurriedly about something to do with the Ministry, and Kenneth couldn't catch anything about from the Minister's name and that of a few departments. The last person he hadn't met before was a Weasley, and he didn't have time to look at him because he found that he was already sitting next to Bill (it must be Bill) and having a conversation.
'Bill Weasley,' he said charmingly and smiled brightly at Kenneth. 'Don't you work at Gringotts? Something to do with foreign wizards, witches and money?'
'Well, I used to,' Kenneth said.
'My girlfriend,' said Bill 'came over from France to work at Gringotts. Fleur Delacour?' he asked. 'Do you know her?'
Kenneth nodded. She was beautiful. At first he'd found it hard to speak around her and do his job, he ended up stuttering like a nervous wreck. But eventually he was able to after a few days of nearly being in her presence nonstop. 'Yeah,' Kenneth said. 'I know her. But I don't work there anymore,' he added.
'Why not?' Bill asked calmly.
'I got fired.'
'What for?' the Weasley asked.
'Werewolf,' Kenneth said lamely with a pitiful smile. 'They fired me because they couldn't be bothered going through endless amounts of papers and work to keep me there. Apparently, it's more trouble then I'm worth.'
'Oh,' Bill said, somewhat stunned. 'Tough luck, Fleur misses you. She says you were very helpful and funny.'
'Glad I was,' Kenneth said. 'What do you do?'
'I work at Gringotts, too,' said Bill with an award winning smile. 'Curse breaker.'
Now it was Kenneth's turn to be somewhat stunned. Of course he should have guessed from Bill's rocker like appearance that he'd have some impressive job like that. The role of curse breaker's always seemed to be reserved for the outrageous looking or the good looking. Bill was a bit of both. Kenneth often wondered why he hadn't gone in for that job rather than taking his own.
The only reason he'd been given his job was because he spoke German well, a tiny amount of French that always came out wrong when Fleur was around and despite how rude he could be somehow people seemed to like him.
'Oh, wow.' Kenneth grinned. 'Is that as impressive as it sounds?'
After a few seconds he was aware of Remus gazing at him as he spoke to Bill. He turned his head lightly to the side to look at the older werewolf who flushed deeply and turned away back to Sirius and gave him the softest kiss Kenneth had ever seen, it caused Mad-Eye to cough awkwardly and interrogate the pair of them about "just what was going on". Kenneth was flushed a little himself from catching Remus looking at him like that and felt a little self-important now.
Bill shook his head with a laugh. 'No, of course not, we all just spend a lot of time stuffing around with the vaults. Wands out and all.'
Kenneth did his best not to laugh when Bill said that and nodded with a soft smile. 'These meetings,' he said, 'does anything much happen? Or is it just some a giant get together, an excuse for a party?'
'Mad-Eye's all for having a serious talk but mum treats it like a party of friends and since not much of the Order are here, I guess it will just stay that way.'
Bill was right. For the remainder of the evening they ate the delicious food Molly had prepared, there was slight talk about affairs at the Ministry – mainly Fudge's ever growing uselessness. Some talk of Sirius and Remus and some of Kenneth joining. And he was right, just as Mad-Eye was leaving he plucked at Kenneth's sleeve and nearly dragged him into the corridor to accost him about his reasons for joining. He backed down considerably when he said that Dumbledore had allowed him to join and Snape had already given him Veritaserum.
'Werewolf?' grunted Mad-Eye when they were in the safety of the corridor that led down to the kitchen.
The faint screams of Sirius's mother, Walburga, with whom Kenneth had become acquainted with earlier that day, ("Half-blood! Traitorous half-blood") could still be heard. She wasn't happy with the "scum" that was treading through her house. She'd made quite a racket when the pink haired girl, who Kenneth now knew as Tonks, walked in and tripped over the snake themed umbrella stand. And not just because she'd knocked something over. A stream of insults had flown out when she'd entered the house, and Sirius had nearly had to smash her portrait to make his mother shut up.
'Yes,' Kenneth said. He felt that if he tried to play around the answer with this man, there could be some serious trouble. 'What does it have to do with anything?' he asked in a small squeak of a tone. Mad-Eye was very intimidating.
'Are you on our side?' the Auror asked tapping his wand against his hand.
'Yes, of course I am!' Kenneth said. 'I wouldn't be here if I wasn't.'
'But how do we know that?'
'I've spoken to Dumbledore, he trusts me. Remus trusts me and Snape forced me to drink Veritaserum. All that came out was the truth.' If Mad-Eye didn't feel he could trust Kenneth there could be some bad disruption amongst the Order.
'I'll be checking with all three of them,' Mad-Eye said poking a finger threateningly at Kenneth.
The warm welcome wasn't exactly warm when joining the Order. Kenneth knew his lycanthropy was a factor in all the questions as well, a rather large factor. But he didn't really mind much about that, it was just the way people were.
They protected themselves and those they loved at all costs, and if that meant being very wary of being constantly vigilance, then that was how it was.
