Written for Hogwarts - Assignment 2. Transfiguration: Task: For this task I would like you to write about a person atoning for, or correcting past mistake/s.


Atonement


Sirius watched the woman walk away, shooting him a distrustful look over her shoulder. He turned away and brought his hand up, knocking on the door.

"Come in."

Sirius pushed the door open, closing it quickly behind him and looked towards the desk. A man with slightly shaggy hair and amber eyes stood up, smiling at him.

He approached the desk, his hand out. "Are you Remus Lupin? I'm Sirius Black. I called yesterday?"

Remus nodded, hesitantly reaching his own hand out to shake Sirius'. "Mr. Black, it's nice to meet you," he said. "Take a seat. What can I do for you?"

Sirius took a moment to look around. When he had gotten information on the place, he hadn't expected such a gorgeous man to be the one he had to deal with.

"I'll be straight with you, Mr. Lupin. Ever since my parents passed away, I've been trying to fix their mistakes, which has led me to this centre."

"They have made many mistakes in their attempts to close us and cut our meagre funding," Remus said, his voice steady, though the smile had faded slightly. "Be frank with me, Mr. Black. Are you here to finish the job and shut us down for good?"

Sirius stared at him. "I think there's a misunderstanding here," he replied. "As a 'fuck you'

to my parents, I'm going to make donations to help those that they've tried to destroy. This is actually the last donation I'm making. I've been everywhere else."

"I see," Remus replied, looking thoughtful. "So you're getting revenge?"

"It may be a 'fuck you' to them, but I'm doing this so I can do something good. Let's call it atonement. I'm atoning for what they've done to others. People are terrified of me because of my name. I'm hoping to change that. I'm proud of my name. I'm not proud of what family members such as my parents have done to it. Will you accept the donation?"

Remus Lupin looked completely thrown at his words and Sirius waited in silence.

"This is atonement for your parents?" Remus finally asked.

Sirius nodded.

"It's possible that your family have done irreparable damage to this place. I wouldn't be able to accept your donation as it won't fix the problem. We have a month before we close."

"A month?" Sirius asked, frowning slightly. "But surely the gold would help rectify… whatever it is?"

"I'm sorry, Mr Black. You can't atone for what your family have done. You won't be willing to do what is required—"

"No, I need to do this," he insisted. "Whatever it is, I'll help and fix the problem."

Remus stared at him, a slow smile crossing his lips. "You'd do anything?"

Sirius hesitated for a moment. Would he do anything that was required to keep the shelter from shutting? He recalled the information his brother had given him on the place: it was a shelter for werewolf children that had been given up. Werewolves weren't allowed in orphanages, so the shelter was set up instead. It worked the same as an Orphanage.

Sirius knew that if he said no and let the place close, the lives of all the children would be in his hands. They would become homeless, possibly die… or join the werewolf packs. Either way their futures would be bleak.

And it would be all his fault for not fixing things.

"Whatever it takes," Sirius agreed.

"Wonderful." Remus' smile widened, a bright, genuine smile. "I can now accept your donation. You can start tomorrow at seven."

"Tomorrow at seven?"

"Yes. The law states that we need a minimum four people working here," Remus explained. "Until we find another staff-member, you'll be taking that fourth place."

Sirius stared at him in shock as Remus stood up and shook his hand, before taking the donation. He was still speechless as he left the building and headed home.

...oOo...

"You came back!" Remus exclaimed as he swung the door open the next morning.

"I told you I would," Sirius said, grinning at the look of surprise on Remus' face. "Like I said, I'm trying to restore my family's name. So, what do I do first?"

"A pile of paperwork," Remus replied, smiling warmly at him. "Then it'll be time for breakfast. Let's go to my office and get everything done, shall we?"

Remus led the way to his office and it wasn't long before Sirius was reading through the forms. Nothing was amiss and Sirius quickly signed his name, handing them back.

"Are you any good at cooking? Teaching?"

"Teaching?"

Remus nodded. "We have a couple of tutors from outside of the centre for certain subjects, but we need more. All children without magic are sent to local schools, but we need to teach here. Can you help with that? That's where we need the most help."

"I'm happy to do that," Sirius assured him. "Just tell me where I'm needed."

...oOo...

Two weeks later, Sirius was finally starting to settle into the shelter. He had taken up teaching Charms and helped with Ancient Runes too. He had offered to help with Flying lessons too.

He hadn't even considered the full-moon coming up until Remus pulled Sirius into his office.

"Trying to get me alone? How did you know I liked being handled like this?" Sirius said, leering at the man.

Remus looked at him, taken aback, before he shook his head slightly. "I just wanted to talk to you about the upcoming full-moon. I was hoping—though I understand if you're not able to do so—that you'd be able to stay here overnight."

"Sure. What'll I need to do?" Sirius asked.

"Well, the safety of the place is at risk during the full-moon," Remus said, looking concerned. "Where the law states that werewolves can't be attacked in their human form…"

"Do people attack here when you're transformed?"

Remus nodded his head. "I can keep them safe from the inside. If anyone got in, I'd… I'd tear them apart, but I don't want to hurt anybody."

"Do you transform with the rest?" Sirius asked.

"I do. We spend quite a bit of funding on paper gowns. They are extraordinarily cheap when you buy in bulk, which help as we rip through them as we transform. They see me as their pack leader and me being in here helps keep fighting to a minimum."

"So the attacks?"

"Another layer of wards and removing those that attempt to get through," Remus replied. "Ward this building, ward the gates. Ward the house you'll be staying in. It's the little one next to the sheds."

Sirius nodded. "Are Marlene and Dorcas doing this too?"

"They are."

...oOo...

Sirius ticked names off on his checklist as each student followed Remus down into the basement. When the hallway was empty, Sirius checked his list, finding one name unaccounted for.

With Dorcas and Marlene getting the children settled and Remus meditating with the children that wanted to join, Sirius decided it was his job to search for the missing child.

He cast charms on each door until he found a room that contained someone. He rapped on the door.

"Teddy?"

He could hear a sniffle from behind the door and knocked again before opening the door. He would usually wait, but knew the full moon was approaching and that there wasn't time.

"I don't want to go down there," the small boy whispered from under the desk in the corner.

Sirius headed over, dropping down to the floor. "I don't blame you," he said, smiling softly at the boy.

"It's dark and I don't like the dark or the cold. There are monsters down there."

"Teddy, you won't be alone down there," Sirius murmured reassuringly. "Remus and all of the others are going to be down there too. In fact, the rest of the place will be empty."

"But if I go down there, I'll turn into a monster."

"No. You'll turn into a wolf," Sirius corrected him, trying to keep his voice steady as he looked at the five-year-old. "Teddy, no matter where you are, when the moon comes out you will change. The basement is a safe place to do so. When you change, Remus will be able to keep you safe down there."

"What if someone tries to eat me?" Teddy whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at Sirius.

"I promise you that no-one is going to try and hurt you. Remus said that you're all a pack. Do you know what a pack is?"

Teddy shook his head.

"A pack is a family of wolves. You're part of that, Teddy."

"But I don't have a family," Teddy said, tears appearing in his eyes. "Mummy didn't want me anymore."

"But you're here. Remus and the others want you here," Sirius insisted.

"Do you want me here?" Teddy asked, looking at Sirius hopefully.

"You bet I do," Sirius replied. "This is your family now, Teddy. Everyone in this building will do what it takes to protect you, including me."

"But what about when you leave?"

Sirius hesitated for a long moment. "I don't think that'll happen any time soon," he assured the child.

"Because this is your family too?"

Sirius nodded.

"Let me take you downstairs. I promise I'll be there when you wake up, okay?"

Teddy nodded, somewhat reluctantly, but took Sirius' hand and climbed out from under the desk.

Remus was waiting at the door for them.

"I was wondering where you went," he said to Sirius.

"Miss me already?" Sirius asked, letting go of Teddy's hand so Remus could take it. "Or did you want me to give you a kiss for luck?"

"I… what? A kiss… I mean, why…?" Remus stuttered nervously, his cheeks reddening adorably.

Sirius took the nervousness as a sign that he was interested. Especially after Remus' gaze shot down to his lips. He stepped forward and let his lips brush Remus' softly. "Good luck, Moony," he murmured. "We'll hold the fort up here. Teddy's terrified, keep him near, okay?"

"Okay," Remus whispered, looking quite dazed. Sirius winked at him before moving away from the door.

After the door shut behind them, he watched as Marlene and Dorcas set wards on the door, before setting his own. The pair showed him the wards for the building and finally they warded the gate.

Sirius could see some figures in the distance and was determined no-one would get near Teddy, Remus or any of the others.

...oOo...

Sirius and the others were exhausted by the morning. The attack on the wards weakened them, and Sirius, Marlene and Dorcas spent the night holding them up.

In the end, Sirius had to send a Patronus to his friend James to ask for his assistance, temporarily allowing for James to floo to Remus' office.

James stuck around for the morning to help out. He was shown to the kitchen to start cooking up meals. Marlene had been injured by a wizard who had managed to get through the wards once the group had pulled them down. It had only been a couple of seconds, but it was long enough for one to slip through.

That meant Sirius was helping Dorcas downstairs.

Sirius was hit with the stench of blood and threw the door open, his gaze falling on bodies in varied states of health.

"Blankets," Dorcas shouted from behind him, her arms already ladened with some. Sirius grabbed a pile of his own.

"Just… throw a blanket over everyone first, so they don't wake up and realise they are naked."

Sirius began to throw blankets over each body, trying to ignore the blood and the whimpers of pain. Finally he reached Remus at the far end of the room. The man's eyes were open slightly, watching him.

"Regretting that kiss now?" Remus whispered, his voice hoarse and broken.

"Not at all," Sirius murmured, wrapping a blanket around Remus. "I'll be back to help you after I see to the children."

"Just help me up," Remus insisted. "I can help heal the others."

"You can barely help yourself," Sirius insisted. "I've got a friend sorting out breakfast. Marlene is hurt but will be fine in a couple of days and I don't think I saw as much blood as I expected."

"Bring small groups up at a time. Youngest to oldest. Heal them and then send them for breakfast."

Sirius nodded, moving away from Remus. He woke a few of the smaller children and sent them to Dorcas, who led them upstairs. A couple more were found, and his heart almost stopped as he spotted Teddy.

Sirius quickly pointed his wand at the boy, scared of the way his leg was bent. He hoped a broken leg was all Teddy suffered. He cast a stasis charm and then levitated the small boy into the air and led him to the hospital room.

Dorcas was already sending one of the children from the room as Sirius entered.

"Something broken?" she asked.

Sirius nodded. "Will he be alright?"

"Of course," Dorcas insisted. She offered Sirius a rare smile. "There's never a month where someone doesn't break something," she insisted. "I can set it easily and Teddy can have a Muggle cast for a few days and we can all sign it. They're not needed, but the kids love the idea of casts."

Sirius lightened slightly at the words, hesitating in leaving the small boy. He had promised to be there when Teddy woke up.

"Do you know much about healing?" Dorcas asked, looking between Sirius and Teddy.

"You'll be surprised. We didn't want the school nurse to know what we'd been up to, so me and James learnt to heal ourselves. I've broken a few bones whilst at school."

"Why don't you stay up here?" she suggested. "Let them come in and put one of the robes on behind the screen, then do a health-check spell over each child. If they are hurt, deal with it. Otherwise, a pain potion, a chocolate and send them to breakfast."

Sirius nodded his head. As Dorcas left, the next child walked in, her blanket wrapped around her tightly. Sirius gestured to the screen and she limped over.

Though Sirius was happy to take up any role at the shelter, the thought of going back down to the basement scared him. What if he went down there one morning and found Teddy or Remus dead? He had read up on the risks of transforming. Young children were the most likely to not survive… and Remus? Well, the thought of losing Remus terrified him.

It wasn't long before all of the children had been seen to. Only three of the six beds were occupied and Remus was the only one left.

"I've healed myself," he insisted when Sirius pointed his wand towards him. "I just wanted to thank you for all that you've done here. You have atoned for your family."

"Wait," Sirius asked. "Are you asking me to leave?"

"Nathan turns seventeen in a couple of days. He's asked to stay on here as a tutor. It'll give us the amount of people that we need."

"But I…" Sirius bit his lip. "I like being here, Remus. I don't want to stop helping here."

The frown on Remus' face lightened and he offered Sirius a smile. "Do you mean that?"

"I do. Can I stay?"

Remus nodded. "Of course. I just didn't want you to stay out of obligation, but I can't imagine the place without you. The children adore you and love your lessons. You're certainly the best cook and you bring up their spirits when they are down. You really make the difference here."

"Just to the children?" Sirius murmured, reaching across for Remus' hand.

"No. I adore you too," Remus admitted. "I was hoping you wouldn't leave. Part of me wanted to tell Nathan that he couldn't take on a leading role here, but I didn't want to be dishonest and trick you into staying this way."

Sirius lifted Remus' hand to his lips. "You're not getting rid of me that easily," he said. "I'm here and I've found a cause that I'm emotionally invested in now. I'll do what I can to help you run this place, and I want to be with you."

"Sirius?"

"Teddy!" Sirius said quickly, moving away. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore," Teddy whispered, his eyes wide. "It hurts."

Sirius grabbed a potion from the side. "Well, take these potions and they'll help with the pain and send you back to sleep whilst you heal," he said.

The small boy clutched Sirius' hand as he drank the potions and didn't let go until he was asleep once more.

...oOo...

The pair walked into the dining room, hand in hand. The kids were all sitting as close to James Potter as possible, eating their food and watching him as he recounted tales of his days at Hogwarts.

"But how did you get lost in the forest?" one of the children asked.

"It was Sirius," James said, eager to please his captivated audience. "We were running from Filch and this time he wasn't prepared to give up until he caught whoever flooded the Great-Hall. We headed in there and there was this unicorn… and Sirius just walks up to it, claiming that all unicorns love him. Well, this one didn't love him. It tried to stab him with its horn!"

"It was just showing me its horn," Sirius insisted. "Unicorns adore me!"

James snorted, before spotting the joined hands and his grin widening. "Sirius, we've got so much catching up to do," he said.

"Mr James," a girl said, looking up at him. "What do unicorns look like?"

"Unicorns are beautiful," James began, his voice softening as he talked to the child. "Next time I come, I'll bring some pictures."

...oOo...

Sirius scribbled his name across the forms in front of him, only pausing to shoot Remus a smile.

"You know, six months ago, I'd have never even considered allowing a Black to adopt from here. In fact, six months ago, I'd have never thought a Black would want a werewolf as a son."

"That was before you knew me," Sirius replied. "And when we get married, Teddy will be both of our son."

"That's true." Remus chuckled. "I hope that wasn't the proposal."

"Of course not. You'll know it when you see it. There will be lots of flowers and lit candles and soft music playing… and I'll get down on one knee, in the second most fun way and I'll have a ring and a bar of chocolate to propose with."

Remus laughed, and Sirius pushed the forms back over. "Done. All I need is for you to sign."

Remus grabbed the quill and quickly signed, causing the parchment to glow and disappear. "Congratulations, Mr. Black. You're now a father."

Sirius smiled widely. "Now, down to business. James' girlfriend Lily works in St. Mungo's. She's offered to volunteer here whenever she's free, and she'll be here after each full-moon to help with injuries."

Remus grabbed his notebook and scribbled the information down.

"She's also offered to give a workshop on what it's like to be a healer, just in case anyone is interested. She's promised to focus more on the helping side because of the non-magical children, in case we have any future doctors or nurses in our midst. Also, Molly's son Charlie, is a dragon enthusiast. He's offered to come in when school lets out and give a talk on dragons."

"And you said Regulus was up for helping?" Remus asked, beaming at Sirius.

"He's taking the Black family seat in the Wizengamot. He's going to try and fight against some of the worst laws for werewolves. We've got a few families supporting so far. The Weasleys, Shacklebolts, McKinnons and the Longbottoms. A few more can be convinced… so we might be able to make some changes. It'll take time though."

Remus leaned over his desk, pressing his lips softly against Sirius'. "You're the best thing to happen to this place," he murmured.

"No, you are," Sirius insisted. "You set this place up. You used your entire life savings to run this shelter for others and dedicated your life to them. I've only helped. This place is all down to you. So, should we go and tell Teddy the good news?"

Remus allowed Sirius to lead him from the room and they headed towards the dining room.

Remus walked in first, his eyes looking around for Teddy. What he found instead was an empty room. Flowers were draped across the tables, and candles of various sizes were lit on every surface. He turned, his mouth open, to find Sirius on one knee behind him.

"So, do you want the ring first or the chocolate?" Sirius asked hopefully.

"Both," Remus whispered softly, shocked at what was happening. "I can't believe this. I love you, Sirius."

"I love you too," Sirius murmured. "You know this means I get to move into your room."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Remus replied.

"Teddy Lupin-Black. It has a nice ring to it," Sirius added. "So, let's get this ring on your finger and go and find our son."

"Our son. I like the sound of that," Remus admitted, leaning down to kiss Sirius.


Thanks to Shannon for betaing and Raybe for helping.

Review please :)