Thank you so very much to everyone who has read this, and extra special thanks to those who have reviewed! We're approaching the end; I think maybe another two or three chapters and potentially an epilogue. We'll see.

The Wizengamot gradually finished writing their notes and Mistress Birch stood up once more.

'On behalf of all of us, I thank Master Alhage and Madam Chatterjee for addressing us about the case of Remus Lupin. Now, the floor is open. Do any of you have questions?'

'Ms Chatterjee,' says an old woman in violet robes, 'you do not deny that Lupin broke our laws. What would you have us do? Punish him? Change the law?'

Shami stood up once more.

'I believe that even were Remus freed this moment, he would still have suffered more punishment than he deserves. I believe that the law he broke is unfair; you cannot stop people living their lives and earning money in the wizarding world and then deny them the opportunity to work in the muggle world without expecting negative consequences. Werewolves need money like everyone else, to find a place to live and to eat. I believe he should be released immediately and that the laws governing werewolf employment need review. Of course people need to be protected but the more prohibitive werewolf laws are, the more you drive them to break those laws.'

'So you would change the laws,' said the woman.

'It's not up to me what the laws of the magical community are. I simply see that in this circumstance, a good man has been driven by desperation to break a law which appears to simply criminalise normal and safe behaviour. I, a muggle, am standing before you because otherwise he would have no recourse to legal representation. However, it is a fact that werewolves live among you, and the less opportunities they have to make a living, the more they will resort to lawbreaking.'

The old woman nodded in satisfaction and sat down. A fairly young man on the opposite side of the auditorium stood.

'I would like to confirm a point; that is that Lupin's previous employers sacked him purely because of his relationship with Black.'

Shami stood back up.

'That's right. Remus was a member of staff and Sirius is a student at the university. This was deemed inappropriate.'

Another man, this time with a beard to rival Dumbledore's, got to his feet.

'My question is for Alhage,' he croaked, and Shami sipped her water gratefully. 'How did you expect Lupin to live when you forbade him from taking any work.'

Alhage got to his feet and looked balefully at the man.

'My role is simply to enforce the law.'

'But you also make the laws?'

'That is correct.'

'Then my question still stands.'

'Sir, my duty is to protect the normal members of society. That requires restrictions on werewolf employment. Quite frankly, it is no concern of mine how a werewolf chooses to survive, as long as he does not resort of criminal activity.'

'Master Alhage, forgive me for my persistence, but you have not answered the question.'

'There are legitimate jobs for werewolves to undertake.'

'Can you please give us examples?'

'Perhaps it would be more relevant were I to enumerate the restrictions. A werewolf may not work in a situation where he may be required to work on the day or night of the full moon, or the day following. He may not be alone with a single other person. He may not have unrestricted access to members of the public. He may not travel. He may not have responsibilities which could conceivably mean the power of life or death over a person. There must be no risk of blood contamination. He may not work with children'

'Thank you for clarifying that, Alhage. I wonder, on what grounds did you deny him employment at a muggle cafeteria?'

'There is clearly a risk of blood contamination, and potential for the werewolf to be alone with one other person.'

'I see. Can you name a form of employment which would be legal for a werewolf?'

The bearded man stood for a full five seconds while Alhage racked his brains, before retaking his seat.

'Thank you,' he said. Alhage shot him a murderous look and also sat down.

Remus's recovery from the full moon was taking longer than usual, and not just because of not having Wolfsbane. He was grateful for Snape's painkilling potion, but the effects wore off leaving his muscles and joints burning, and his many self-inflicted wounds stabbing with pain. He had only been given more dubious meat to eat and had made do with an orange from the things that Sirius had brought him, but had vomited it almost as soon as he had eaten it.

He curled up miserably and tried to remember the events of the last hours. Of course, he had been tormented once again because of his lie.

I had to lie, to save Rom, he thought miserably. Why can't they see that? I had no choice. But it seems now I've given them something, they won't let it go.

He bit his lip. His body hurt. He was covered in smears of blood and bruises. He knew he smelt bad. Still, he was used to those degradations, once a month. What he was not used to was the knowledge that he was a prisoner with seemingly no hope of release.

Dumbledore will be trying to help me, and Sirius… and Severus. They'll be doing everything they can. But still… what if they send me off to Azkaban?

He was roused from dwelling on this fear with the grating noise that meant his food hatch was being opened.

'Remus,' hissed a familiar voice. 'Come here. I can't help much but, well, I've got a healing potion. Oh, and a cup of tea.'

Remus gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet, the thin blanket around him.

'Thank you,' he said, and approached the door. 'But - who are you? I mean, I know you, but…'

The voice, a male voice, laughed grimly and the shadow that fell on the two mugs at the door moved away.

'Try not to think about it,' he said. 'Do not even wonder. It's dangerous. Just drink your potion.'

'If you're trying to help me, can't you get me out of here?' whispered Remus hoarsely before picking up the healing potion, draining it, and then wrapping his hands around the mug of tea.

'Remus, I can't, I only wish I could,' said the voice and he did sound dreadfully sorry. 'There's no way I could get you out of the cell and then out of the Ministry and hidden away without being caught. All we'd achieve would be that I'd be banged up as your next-door neighbour and they'd probably give you an even worse time after that.'

Remus clenched his jaw as he swallowed back despair and then took a sip of tea. It was hot, strong and utterly delicious.

'I think there's something going on upstairs to do with you though,' he said. 'Something to do with the Wizengamot. Don't ask me what because I've no idea, they don't let me into their plans, but I've heard Dumbledore's in the building today with some muggle, a woman.'

'A muggle woman?' Remus repeated incredulously and thought immediately of Jane. 'A small loud redhead?'

'Don't know. Still, I'd say if Dumbledore's on the case then you've got as good a chance as any.'

A distant door creaked then banged and the voice muttered a curse.

'Time to leave. Chin up, boy.'

And then he was gone and Remus was left alone to finish his tea and try to extinguish the sparks of hope the stranger's visit had kindled.

The three who were coming to attempt to free Remus were arriving through the flooing fireplaces in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Snape travelled first, then Jane. When she stepped out, she knew she should betray no surprise but could not prevent a sharp intake of breath at the magnificent space with its shining fountain.

'You shouldn't set off any alarms arriving through the floo network, even though you are a muggle, because you're carrying Lupin's wand,' Snape had told her, 'but do try to look nonchalant.'

She had rolled her eyes at that, thinking it obvious, but she was glad he had reminded her. She had expected some version of the Houses of Parliament, which she had visited once on a school trip, with perhaps a few touches of magic - floating candles, that kind of thing - but this was far more magnificent and entirely alien.

She gulped, wiped her sweating palms on her trousers, and walked over to Snape to await Sirius. He followed a few moments later, and they set off in the direction of the lifts.

The place was swarming with men and women in robes of many colours, some wearing the pointed hats that Jane had hoped for when she had first heard about the world of magic. Pieces of paper like small birds fluttered overhead and she wondered what they were for, but could not ask for fear of being overheard. Even the lifts were like nothing a muggle would ever have built and it really hit her for the first time what they were planning to do. The nerves that the novelty of the ministry had made her temporarily forget rushed back with reinforcements.

I can't believe I'm here. This is ridiculous! I can't possibly hold my own against anyone here. Why on earth did I insist on coming? I'm going to be no help at all. And how can we ever smuggle Remus out with so many people around? If only we could have waited for night. Oh god, oh fuck, I can't handle this.

She took a few breaths, trying to control the hammering of her heart as the lift descended, and gave herself a good talking to. If she had only known it, the Felix was kicking in and suddenly their quest did not seem half so outlandish.

You're here for Remus. That's why you came. You'll be okay and so will he. Come on woman. Pull yourself together. The boys know what to do, and anyway, you can always set someone on fire before they take you down!

She glanced at Sirius and Snape, and noticed they also seemed suddenly calmed. Sirius winked at her and she grinned back.

The lift had stopped at many floors, emptying people and the paper birds, and they were the last to alight with only a few memoranda following them.

Jane noticed both men take out their wands and hold them loosely by their sides. She did the same, and with her other hand checked the bag of supplies hanging round her neck. They set off into the corridors.

These were dimly lit passageways, a contrast to the magical brightness of the entrance and the lift. Lamps burned with blue flames which flickered as they passed, throwing eerie shadows in front of them. It was soundless down there, no signs of life. The papers they had shared the lift with were long gone, having fluttered away to their destinations. Even their tread made no sound, their footfalls muted by carpet. The walls were plain grey with no pictures and only the occasional mysterious door to break the monotony.

Snape led the way with confidence, occasionally turning back briefly to check they were still following. The quiet claustrophobia of the subterranean catacombs dented even Felix's powers of confidence and none of them wanted to break the stillness even if they had not needed to keep silent.

Mistress Birch looked around. There were no hands aloft.

'Let us take an initial vote,' she said in her magically magnified voice. 'We will begin with the question of Master Lupin's law-breaking. I will ask for a vote whether or not you believe Lupin broke the law as it currently stands. This has no bearing on what you may think of the laws, or what punishment, if any, you feel is appropriate for Lupin. Very well. Those who believe on the evidence they have heard that Lupin broke the law by taking employment which had been specifically debarred from him as a werewolf, please vote now.'

The hall was filled immediately with puffs of green smoke. The harassed-looking counting clerk cast his spell, then caught Madam Birch's eye and nodded.

'Those who believe he did not break any law, vote now.'

A very few puffs of red smoke were conjured.

'And any abstentions?'

This time, a sparse showing of white smoke.

The counting clerk trotted up to Madam Birch and showed her the figures he had jotted down before standing and announcing the result.

'We find that Remus Lupin has been guilty of law-breaking by a majority of 473 to four, three abstentions,' he said.

'I must ask that anyone who believes Lupin to have broken other laws to speak now,' said Birch. No one spoke. 'Very well. We now come to the crux of the matter; whether or not Lupin was justified in his actions, if he was driven to act in a way which in any fully human citizen would not only not be a crime but which is a normal course of everyday living. If we come to the conclusion that he was justified, then a potential law change will be debated at a later date.'

'I would remind you all of the ancient dignity and immense responsibility of the office of member of the Wizengamot, and the importance of all members in having their voices heard and their views considered,' she said hopefully, and braced herself. 'The floor is open.'

Remus had long since finished his tea and was again trying to engross himself in one of his books, but he was struggling to concentrate and at the sound of footsteps he glanced up, then got to his feet as his door began to open.

'Hello, wolfie,' said Ginger. He was accompanied by Short, and another man with dark hair and a thin, cruel mouth.

Remus stared at him, and he smiled back.

'Crucio,' Short said. He turned to the dark man as Remus was writhing on the floor. 'The werewolf's manners are appalling. I apologise. We haven't managed to improve them yet.'

'You'd better be quick,' said Dark scornfully.

Remus sat up shaking and rubbed a hand over his denuded head.

'Alright wolf. You're going to tell us exactly what you've been playing at, how many poor muggles you've infected with your disgusting blood, what you're planning, or you're going to Azkaban double quick.'

'I told you, I haven't done anything. I told you that. I lied before… you were going to leave Ro- my twin with me when I transformed. I couldn't let myself hurt him. I had to tell you what you wanted to hear.'

'Look, we're reasonable men,' Dark told him, but the blank expression on his face belied this. 'If you don't tell us in the next ten seconds what we have asked, we will pack you off to Azkaban, and we'll see just how dangerous you are with the Dementors looking after you.'

A couple of seconds elapsed. Remus sat stubbornly with his mouth closed.

'Crucio,' shrieked Ginger once more, and the pain tore through Remus's limbs, feeling like it would burst his heart, like his brain was bleeding. He felt himself vomit, then lose control of his bladder, and the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness was Dark berating his tormentors for their lack of results.