Title: another leg of the journey, 2
Challenge: #308: The 'Other Family'
Word count: 5 x 100
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Summary: Rope found a family for himself, as Remus finally meet... two someones.

Remus flew with Reginald and Rope wrapped around his neck like makeshift scarves. Reginald made his neck warm, for which Remus was grateful. Rope was just scraping annoyingly at his collar.

They flew over the fork of the road where Remus and Rope had their small argument earlier that day. Remus's breath hitched a little, because some of Rope's accusations were sort of true. Remus steadied his flight and turned to the general direction of the sea.

Hey wolf, Rope called.

"What?"

Sorry about earlier.

"What did you say?" Remus asked, clearly amused.

I'm not repeating myself. You're not deaf.

Rope examined the Auror who flew alongside them. The Auror was rather tall and very quiet. He can be George, Rope remarked to Remus.

"What?" Remus asked, looking straight ahead.

You can be John. That's your middle name isn't it, wolf?

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

Reginald can be Paul, I suppose. Rope decided, nudging the fat snake that was fast falling asleep. And I can be the Starr.

"What are you on about?" Remus felt irritation rise.

I am he! As you are he! As you are me! And we are all together, Rope recited. Together like a family!

"Not for long, if I can help it," Remus muttered.

They flew for quite some time and Remus's arse was slowly feeling the strain of flying. Reginald was asleep, Rope was as chatty as ever, and George the Auror was as silent as ever.

As he wondered about Severus's whereabouts, Reginald suddenly jerked quite awake, nearly choking Remus in the process. Master! I can feel him!

You can? Rope hissed as Remus tried to right his broom again. Are we on the right direction?

Yessssss.... it was the closest thing to a purr Remus had ever heard off a snake.

Master was here! I smells him! Reginald hissed, frantic and excited.

"Seems like they all ended up here," Remus remarked, noting that the tracks ended here, the abandoned caravan, and no tracks leading out of this clearing.

Severus needn't be so worried after all. Remus and George the Auror found the handkerchief and the arrow that Perry scratched. They went to the tree and saw deep indentations underneath it, small footprints left by the children who went up to it.

"A portkey tree?" Remus asked. He touched the tree but nothing happened.

"Is it possible to trace the portkey's destination?"

They decided to Apparate back to the house, to report their findings and to arrange for a Tracer Team.

Back in the house, they found Minerva and Kingsley sitting with a man and a woman he didn't recognise. They all looked up at him.

"Ah, Remus, come. Let me introduce you to..."

"Merlin!" the woman exclaimed, rising onto her feet in a hurry, and all but ran towards Remus.

Lightning quick, long purple-nailed fingers grabbed the soiled handkerchief held loosely in Remus's hand.

"Oh! It's true! Poor, poor Severus!" she wailed shrilly, clutching the handkerchief close to her bosom.