BROTHERLY LOVE

Feeling very full, Harry and Fleur staggered out of the secret tunnel, and into the cave. He knew he'd have trouble taking a portkey home, so he got ready to apparate. Fleur, seeing this, started to stop him when they slid through the ether and appeared with a pop in front of Delacour Manor.

"-op! Oh!"

Fleur's exclamation stopped mid-sentence, when she saw they were already home.

"How? How can you apparate across such a large distance? That's nearly a thousand miles! I- you know what, I don't wish to know. I'll only ask more questions. Let's go to sleep."

"Yes, Miss Fleur Miss." Harry was awake enough to smirk slightly, as he apparated the two to Fleur's room.

Jacques Delacour sat in his comfy chair and pondered the quandary that was Harry Potter. He knew the bo- man would start relations with his daughter soon. It was easy to see. He only hoped Fleur would not be upset or too angry when she found out the man would seek out several women to plant his seed amongst…

Pandora Caedis sat in her favourite armchair beside the fire in her room. She was thinking of what she'd been thinking of for the last day or two- Harry Potter. That man would be the death of her, she knew it. She could feel the beginnings of a bond to him, through her father's rash Turning of him. She hadn't been out of the Castle for many years… maybe it was time to do so again?

"I can't believe you, Dumbledore! I trusted you! You said I could trust you! I trusted you with Harry, and you lose him?! Gaaagh!" Remus Lupin could feel his fangs lengthening as he struggled to control his rage with the old man before him. He'd already ripped the two gargoyles guarding the Headmaster's Office to pieces for being snarky gits.

"I did not lose him, Remus. He walked out of his home God knows where. How could you blame me for his brash mistakes?" Fumbledore tried to return fire, but, due to being older than old, he shot himself in the foot.

"You put him there, Albus! You forced him to stay at the Dursleys' every year! The only reason Sirius isn't here right now, chewing off your left nut is because he's a wanted man! I want you to find out where he last was, and then I will go and get him! Now Albus!"

The old codger sat back, planning out his last great ploy. If he could get the werewolf thrown into Azkaban- but no. That would never do. He'd break out as soon as he was left alone. Maybe… Hmm.

"The manor where Voldemort was resurrected. He went to try and defeat him again. I don't know why, Remus. He- I know I was wrong, placing him with the Dursleys', but I had no choice- or so I thought. Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton. He may still be there, if he hasn't already been killed…"

Hook line and sinker! The werewolf didn't even say anything, as he bolted for the door! Albus Dumbledore still had it in him!

Riddle Manor sat on a hill, overlooking the rural town of Little Hangleton. A cemetery was a short distance away, the main grave being that of the last master of the town- Tom Riddle. The winged angel of death stood over the dusty remains of his bones, minus one thigh bone.

That thigh bone had been used only two months prior to resurrect the man's son- Tom Riddle Junior. The Dark Lord. Lord Voldemort. Mouldyshorts. You-Know-Poo. The man-come-snake stood overlooking the village filled with worthless muggles, knowing that if he went on a rampage, the Ministry would be down on him like a ton of bricks.

As Lord Voldemort stood contemplating his newfound immortality, and the crux of it, he felt the exterior wards flare.

"Romulus. Take your wolves. We have a trespasser." The high, cold voice shipped through the man's thoughts. The werewolf standing beside the doorjamb sniffed, and grinned. His pointed teeth betrayed which side of the Human/ Wolf divide he preferred.

"Yes, My Lord."

He left without bowing. How rude.

Remus Lupin ran up the garden path towards what must have once been a beautiful Manor. Now, it was dilapidated and crumbling. Remus saw none of this, only a distinct lack of any battle-damage, or Harry-shaped bodies.

He smelled a trap.

And… Romulus. Romulus was here! His own brother, fighting for the Dark Lord… Not good. Not at all.

"Romulus! Romulus! Where are you, you cur? I thought you dead, these last fifteen years! Lupa has not known her uncle since your supposed death! Why? Why, God damn it?"

Remus could smell the man- his brother- but could not tell where. He'd been here too long. His scent was settled over everything. Definitely a trap.

Snap

Remus whirled around, his wand in his hand, to find Romulus leaning against an old pear tree. He slowly lowered his wand, unsure of why he was there.

"Where is Harry? Dumbledore said he'd been here!"

"Dumbledore lied. He knew I was here, though. Practically begged me to get rid of you for him. I wonder… What did you do, brother, to displease your hero so much? I would not touch that whelp Potter. He is the Dark Lord's prey, not mine."

Romulus slowly strode forward, presenting a non-offensive target as he drew closer to his brother. Remus was stunned. Dumbledore set him up? He what? He what?

"If Harry is not here, Romulus, then I guess I will be leaving."

Remus began to retreat to the garden door he'd previously burst through, but he quickly caught the scent of another werewolf. Surrounded.

"I don't want to fight you, Rom, you know that. I've changed since I cast you out."

Romulus Lupin snarled in anger at his weakling brother.

"Aww, well ain't that a crying shame! Why don't we ask my Lord for a nice cup of tea? Or, we could fight like the animals we are!"

At that last snarl, Romulus struck out, snapping Remus' wand in two. His other hand was already cleaving his once-brother's other arm. Remus staggered back, not really registering the pain in his arm. He'd fought for so long to be part of the wizarding world, and now that was gone. That Umbridge toad had passed a bylaw preventing the sale of wands to known werewolves not two weeks ago.

Damn him!

Remus' vision clouded over. All he saw was the man in front of him- the man who'd taken away his last chance at being accepted.

"Raaaarghhh!"

Remus leapt at Romulus, taking the other wold by surprise. His hands closed around his neck, fingernails elongating, cutting into the bulging muscles beneath his skin.

The shock wore off fast. Romulus drove both his fists into Remus' neck, throwing off the lighter man. Skidding back, Remus barely had time to recover before his brother was upon him. A swipe to the left saw Remus clutching his side in agony as it was ripped open; a swipe to right saw the same.

Romulus prowled around his wounded foe. This was too easy. The man'd lost his touch! The supposed Alpha Wolf was pitiful in his retirement! The prowling werewolf stopped behind the kneeling Remus, and took a good grip of his former best friend and brother's neck.

Claws digging in, Romulus put one foot carefully on the man's prostrate legs, and took up the strain. He pulled, lightly at first, but with ever-increasing force as he began to rip the limb straight off. A sickening crunch, followed by a tearing ripped through the garden's silent twilight.

As the sun set on Little Hangleton, Remus Lupin- werewolf, former Hogwarts DADA Professor- faded from the world as his own brother took his life in battle.

Romulus howled his victory to the night, as he took the official Alpha Wolf mantle for his own.

Lord Voldemort stood at the window, unmoved from his last order to the leader of the werewolves.

"Romulus, send Dumbledore his head. And a letter. 'Next time, do your own dirty work.'"

"Yes my Lord. At once."

This time, the man bowed. Voldemort put it down to excitement.