An: Is this an update!? Dear sweet Merlin I believe it is! I realize my updates are very sporadic and I'm sorry for that. Thank you guys for continuing to put up with it and stay with the story. I really do appreciate it. I'll be working on my other two wolfstars this week so hopefully they'll get updated soon as well. For now, here's this one~
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Reasons for Insanity
"What are we doing here?" Romulus looked around the room Astrid had led him to. Teddy was still standing between them, not trusting the other wolf to keep away from her.
"This is one of the observation rooms. I'm putting you in here for your protection and for the protection of the wolves out there. They don't like strangers and knowing how Dad feels about you, well, they'll want to attack you on principle." The dark haired wolf chuckled and shook his head a little.
"He's alpha here."
"Yes, and I wouldn't challenge him on that. Merrick will kick your ass if you try. Or Daddy."
"Is Merrick the beta?"
"No, Daddy is. Although technically he's not supposed to be because he's not a wolf. But he is a dog and has been Dad's beta since they were at Hogwarts together. Merrick however is just under Daddy and he won't hesitate to defend his pack." Romulus nodded as Astrid left to get her parents and somehow convince her fathers not to go off the deep end with this. That alone was a task she wasn't sure she was going to be able to complete. Teddy remained at the entrance of the room to watch the wolf and make sure nothing happened.
"Hey Dad? Daddy?" The pair were in the rec area playing chess when Astrid found them. Sirius looked up and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Well you may not like it...actually you won't like it all but I had to do it and you're probably going to be mad but I'm begging you to hear me out on this and listen to what he has to say before you order his execution or something but I really don't think you want to do that considering his bond but he can't go back to where he was because it was hard enough getting him out and-" Remus grabbed hold of his rambling daughter. There was a slight panic in her eyes and it honestly worried him greatly.
"Whoa cub, easy. What did you do?" Astrid glanced at the doorway before looking back at her father. This was a lot harder then she had thought it was going to be. But then again, when did plans that looked easy ever go smoothly? Remus understood instantly what she was trying to say without words.
"Show me." The teen slowly took both her parents to where Teddy was guarding Romulus. Sirius didn't understand but Remus immediately recognized the evil from his nightmares.
"You. How did you-I don't even want to know. I swear if you have hurt my children in any way I won't hesitate to kill you. Not this time."
"You look good...mated I see. Though, the boy doesn't smell like your mate. He's someone else's child. She smells like your mate but he doesn't. Why is that? They are so close in age yet my dear peu vie jeune fille is the only child of your mate. But she said her parents had been together since they were teens...you've been mated a long time Remmy. So doesn't your first born smell like him? And how is she even alive if you're both the parents?"
"That's none of your concern. Who the hell are you?" The new wolf concerned Sirius. Clearly he knew a lot of his family yet Sirius knew nothing of him. That had to be fixed, especially with the way his mate was acting with this new wolf.
"I'm someone very important from Remus' past. Sad that he never mentioned me to you. You are his mate after all, shouldn't you know about me? Oh well, you'll know soon enough. I am curious to see your son's mate though. Their scent is all over the boy. Smells sweet too. Have you not noticed?"
"Teddy isn't a wolf. He's free of the virus."
"And who told you that brother? It's pretty clear from his behavior he has one waking inside him. Your daughter sensed it ages ago...why haven't you? Are you afraid to know? He'll be different Remmy. Born wolves always are. My guess is he hasn't had a transformation yet but he's definitely awakened the wolf. He wouldn't be mated otherwise."
"Shut up! Teddy isn't a wolf! Why the hell are you here? Are you the one that's been haunting my daughter? Romulus if you are-" Remus really wasn't taking this well. Not that she really expected him to. Still, they needed to stop arguing or they'd never get to the reason Romulus was there. Let alone to the part with him explaining why he did the things he had done.
"Dad please...just hear him out. He says I'll need his help with what's happening to me. Maybe he can help. He's meant to be here regardless since he turned into a hellhound in the MSLCF. He's connected to you whether you like it or not so please, just listen." Sirius moved to where Teddy was and took his place. At the very least he wasn't about to let his kids get hurt. Teddy may not have been biologically his but he was still family and as good as a son to him. Romulus however immediately trained his eyes on him. The growl from behind him told Sirius that Remus was giving a warning. That was the only one this wolf would get too.
"Darkness in you."
"You are far more dark then he could ever be Romulus."
"He reeks of it. Darkness has been in him. Touched him. That's a darkness I know. Did you scream when it burned through you? So much of it will leave it's mark. Some go insane, others die from the pain. Then there are those like you, like me, that adapt. You had to have had it a lot for the scent of it to still be there after so long. It doesn't surprise me that dear Remus never noticed. He'd have to have had that treatment to sense it properly. Oh but I have. I know that curse...who did it to you?" Astrid watched her father stiffen. What curse? What the hell was her uncle talking about?
"Don't you dare. If it wasn't for my kids you'd be dead already. Don't you dare talk about things you know nothing about." Sirius practically hissed at the man. He never hissed like that. Even Remus stopped to look at him.
"Was it your parents? You come from a dark family I wouldn't be surprised. A cousin perhaps? An uncle? A brother?"
"Romulus stop it!" Astrid's call fell on deaf ears. The wolf knew something and seemed to be having fun with the information.
"Who caused you such pain? It's a very unpleasant curse you know. I can't imagine you allowing it to happen if you had a choice." Sirius was seething and ready to lunge at the wolf when Merrick appeared in the hallway.
"What's all the shouting over here? Who is...that? Hi." The tension in the air shifted from hostile to desire. Sirius stepped back as Merrick came closer with a look of hunger and delight in his eyes. He knew that look from Remus. This day had gone far beyond out of control now. Romulus grinned at the other wolf.
"Hello there. What's your name?"
"Merrick. Yours?" Remus started to warn his friend as he stepped inside the room with his brother but then an incident long ago flashed in his mind and it all clicked into place.
"Romulus."
"The other wolf twin?"
"You knew Remus was a twin?" Merrick shook his head as Romulus touched his arm.
"The wolf twins of Rome. Remus and Romulus. Wait, Remus has a twin?" The dark haired man nodded as his other hand found the shorter wolf's waist.
"Yes." Arms wound themselves around Romulus' neck as a grin played on his lips.
"That explains so much with me and him. Finally, it makes sense." Sirius turned to Remus with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"What just happened?"
"They're mates apparently. It's rare for the bond to be there without them meeting but that's exactly what that is. It's why he used to attack me as a kid. He thought I was his mate. It was Romulus; twins' scents can sometimes be confused for each other." Teddy moved over to them with Astrid and sighed.
"So what do we do with him now? He said he wanted to explain to you what happened all those years ago Dad. He wouldn't tell anyone else but he says he'll tell you."
"I will Remus. If you will listen, I'll tell you." Romulus had turned away from Merrick to look at his brother again. He really did want to explain to him.
"Listen to what? How you murdered people in town and then came after me but Carina got in the way and you killed her instead?"
"I was protecting you!"
"By killing my friends and family?! Our family!" Remus was getting agitated again. If it wasn't for Sirius and Merrick standing between the brothers they probably would've been at each other's throats fighting, which was not something the younger Lupin ever condoned.
"They were bullies! They were mean and rude to you. They hurt you! You would come home crying because of what they did. They had to pay for hurting you. I was defending you! As an older brother should."
"Not with their lives! And Carina never once hurt me."
"She got in the way! I wanted you. I had to protect you and she got in the way of me getting to you! I never meant to kill her...she just got in the way. She should have known better." Remus growled low in his throat. He wasn't going to let the wolf from his nightmares get away with what he did. Not anymore.
"You're going to die today. I won't have you here, threatening my family and pack. It's not happening."
"You can't! Remus he's my mate, you can't kill him. I've been waiting for him for a very long time. Even when we were kids I knew. I thought it was you but it's him. He's your twin and you smell alike. Remus stop! I won't let you kill him!"
"I can't have him here Merrick! He's so dangerous, you don't know." Merrick was standing in front of Romulus, not allowing his alpha to get at his mate. Astrid knew this wasn't going to end well if they didn't do something quick. It hit her what to do just as Remus reached where Merrick was with Romulus.
"Unbreakable vow!" Five pairs of eyes turned to her. At least it kept them from killing each other.
"What?"
"Make him take an Unbreakable Vow. That way you know Romulus can't hurt anyone here and he really could be an asset Dad. Give him a chance. He wouldn't have bugged me so much if he wasn't useful somehow. Please, Dad." Logically, it was the best choice given the circumstances but Remus hated his brother. Anger only led to dark places though and he knew it. With a frustrated sigh the man turned back and held out his hand to his brother.
"Unbreakable Vow then. You better thank my daughter for your life Rom."
"I already have. She's quite remarkable I must say."
"You swear no harm will come to anyone in my pack, which includes my family and all wolves here." Remus held out his hand for Romulus to hold and shake while Sirius moved to weave the magic that was binding the oath.
"I swear."
"You swear to harm no one who comes into this house as a guest, creatures included." The older twin nodded and shook Remus' hand a second time.
"I swear."
"You swear these things not on your life but the life of your mate and your magic. If you should break these vows you will lose your magic and your mate, Merrick, will forfeit his life." A hard look came across Romulus' face but it was more determination then anger. He understood what his brother was doing but somehow he thought maybe Remus wouldn't have had to go the extra measure to ensure he didn't break his vow.
"I swear." Their hands shook a third time and the magic coiled around their wrists, seeping in and solidifying the Unbreakable Vow. Astrid cleared her throat.
"Well now that that's over what do you guys say to some dinner? My stomach is trying to eat itself by now."
Astrid found her father later that week in the control room again. She wasn't really sure what it was she was asking but there was something that Romulus had said that stuck with her. Something she felt she already partially knew about and just couldn't remember.
"Hey Daddy?"
"I thought you were spending the day with Lily." The blonde moved to sit in the chair next to him, having a strong sense of deja vu. This situation seemed to happen a lot.
"It's about what Romulus said the other day. About you having darkness." Sirius stopped and turned to look at his daughter.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about."
"But he's not wrong Daddy. I see it sometimes. It's like a stain on your aura that you just can't shake. He said it was from a curse."
"Astrid..."
"Is it because of the veil? You died when you went through and bodies aren't supposed to cross over. Is that why?" The man looked like he wanted to agree and say that was it but lying was never a good policy to use. So instead of taking the easy way out he shook his head.
"No, baby-doll, it's not why. That stain has been there a long time."
"Does Dad know about it? He looked just as confused as I was."
"No, your father doesn't know and I want it to stay that way. Look how he reacted when his own secret came out. How do you think he'd react to mine?"
"I don't know. Romulus did horrid, awful things. I don't think whatever it is that you're hiding is bad enough for Dad to get that mad." Sirius snorted.
"Clearly you haven't seen him when it's me that's threatened." Oh but she had, or at the very least she had heard about it.
"Well James said that nobody can hurt you without Dad coming unglued. That he would hurt whoever it was that hurt you. At least physically."
"Exactly...he wouldn't take it well. Especially given how long ago this happened. Just leave this alone Astrid. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Leave it. I know you're curious and you have an insatiable thirst for knowledge but this one you don't want to know. Trust me." Sirius was trying to end the conversation there but Astrid wasn't done yet. The gears in her mind started turning as she thought more on it. There was something she wasn't getting and she was so close.
"But how could something that bad happen without Dad knowing? Unless he wasn't around for it...but Dad was there all the time. He was there from when you were 11 up. Except in the summer and he wasn't there before Hogw-"
"I pay attention Siri. You've still got a hand tremor...I begged him to stop."
"I could have taken it instead of you! You always take it Sirius even if I'm to blame."
"I've taken it all these years, I'm not going to stop now."
"I know what you've gone through for him but he doesn't.."
"...doesn't hold a candle to what you've done...no idea what happens within the House of Black..."
"...have any idea what Sirius has gone through just to stay your friend?"
"...shit he gets from his family..."
"Darkness inside you. Touched you."
"Painful curse...dark family...parents? Or a cousin? An uncle? A brother?"
Protecting Regulus from 'punishment'. Tremors in his hand. A dark, painful curse...
The Black family were known to love the dark arts and Astrid had read up on a certain set of dark arts spells. One came with side effects of tremors even after the spell had worn off, insanity, and in rare cases death. It would definitely be one that Sirius would protect his brother from and definitely one he wouldn't want Remus knowing he had felt first hand from people who were supposed to love and care for him. She knew her family was psychotic and insane and evil but she didn't know it was that bad. Perhaps the crazy that ran through her family wasn't genetic but spell inflicted.
"James knows. James knows and Dad doesn't." There was panic in Sirius' eyes when he looked back at his daughter. Her mind worked way too well for his liking sometimes.
"James knows because he's mentioned it before. The things you've done to stay Dad's friend. And uncle Regulus kept saying that a few days of pain from the full moon was nothing compared to what you endured within the House of Black."
"Astrid-"
"The agitation when coming back from home, the tremors that you couldn't stop or seem to shake, the darkness around you. Romulus said you had to have felt it to smell that darkness. He knew what it was too. He said it gets inside you and burns through you. He asked if you screamed." Sirius really was panicking now but Astrid had figured it out. She knew his dark secret now and honestly she wanted to kill Orion and Walburga Black herself for what they did.
"Astrid stop-"
"The Crutiatus Curse. They used it on you as punishment. That's why you always took uncle Regulus'. You were protecting him from that. It explains the hand tremors and the darkness and why you desperately don't want Dad to know. He would blow a gasket if he knew what they did to you. Does James know because of when you ran away? Lily told me once she learned to be a healer from Dorea Potter so she must have figured out what was happening to you. Is that why he knows?"
"Astrid!" His yell stopped her in her tracks. She hadn't meant to upset him. It just all of a sudden fell into place for her. All the missing pieces of information that put the puzzle together. Sirius was upset though and she didn't want that.
"Sorry..."
"How do you know all those things? About Regulus and how I acted when I got back from home? How did you know?" Oh crap...
"I heard about it. Hogwarts has a way of showing people what they want to see. I'm sorry Daddy. For what they did, I'm sorry." The blonde moved forward and wrapped her arms around her father. She really had spooked him.
"I-It's ok. Just don't tell your father. I really don't need him seething angry with no one to take it out on."
"I won't. But you should Daddy. Romulus knows and he may decide to tell Dad since he knows he doesn't know." Sirius held her close as he nodded his head.
"I know...I know."
"I can't believe this is my last year."
"I know right? Whatever will James and I do without Teddy Lupin looking after us?"
"Blow up Hogwarts most likely." Astrid snorted as she stepped onto the platform with her brother right behind her.
"I would not."
"Dragons Astrid. You transfigured the dragon statues to make them real dragons. Hogwarts, poof. No more. Goodbye school that has stood for a thousand years of students, pranksters, and wars. You have met your doom with this one." The fifth year rolled her eyes.
"You are being over dramatic Mr. Head Boy."
"I actually feel I'm being the right amount of dramatic. Here you are, the gang's inside. I'm heading up to the front train car. Behave mei-mei." Astrid saluted the seventh year as he headed out. Within seconds there was a set of hands on her hips pulling her down into a lap.
"As! How's my favorite eagle?" James. The flutter in her chest let her know that the crush was still there and as strong as ever. She grinned at him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Jamie! I'm good. The hols were crazy but everything's good now. You ready for our OWLs year?" The eldest Potter scrunched up his nose.
"No, but I bet you are. You are very much a Ravenclaw despite how amazing you look in Gryffindor colors."
"I absorb information like a sponge. What can I say? How were the rest of your summers?" The conversation flowed from there and Astrid found herself happily staying in James' lap, snuggling into the myrrh-smelling boy. Teddy found them still in that position when he returned from his meeting in the first train car.
Despite the crazy summer, Astrid had a feeling the coming year would be amazing. Or maybe that was just because she sitting in James' arms all day.
An: There you guys have it! Another chapter down. Next chapter is fifth year and we know from experience how defining those can be for a Hogwarts student. I'll get working on it as soon as I'm able. Please click down below and review for me. Let me know what you guys think of my story. Also if you like wolfstar I have two other MCs and a couple oneshots. Or if you want more of a variety of wolfstar you could check out NeonDomino. She has amazing stuff and ton of wolfstar along with other pairing stories. Seriously, go check her out.