Chapter 22 – It Took Me By Surprise
Note: Chapter Title from Maria Mena's song 'It Took Me By Surprise'
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
Now that that's out of the way, let's begin…
Last time,
"Now, if I might be permitted to speak, I would like to prove both Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and, slightly irrelevantly, Bellatrix Lestrange, innocent of all crimes."
Now,
"You what now?" Hermione asks before slapping her hands over her mouth, Draco snickers at her, Neville sighs at them both, Benni just seems glad to see his Père.
"Well, I must admit, I am interested to hear how you will manage this. Mr Pettigrew, you will have to be taken into custo –"
"Actually, Minister, unless you've decided to find Sirius innocent, he's a suspect but he cannot be taken into custody," Remus tells him, the Minister appears to regret life but gestures Peter over to the stands.
"Mr Lupin, if you would be so kind," The Minister requests. Harry, Arthur, Lucius, and Severus all head and sit in the seats, far from Peter. Remus gives Peter a reassuring smile and ignores the others as he turns back. Benoit decides he's seen enough and moves to sit beside Peter. Peter looks at him in surprise, he just smiles and then turns back to watch his Père.
"Mr Malfoy, actually," He replies calmly, "Not Lupin."
The Minister frowns but looks down at a file and sees that it is indeed correct, Lucius facepalms as the kids watch on in confusion. "My apologies, Mr Malfoy."
"Duress is a common law defence for those who commit crimes because they have been forced or coerced to do so by the circumstances or threats of another," Remus begins, "To be 'under duress' via threat, the threat must be of death or serious injury to either the defendant or their immediate family or someone close to them."
A wizengamot member, one who doesn't appear to like Remus, sighs in annoyance, "Yes, we are aware of the law."
"I bring your attention to the events that took place on the 8th of August 1978," Remus continues, Arthur and Severus both shift, Peter looking at his hands dejectedly.
It's in that moment that Severus wonders if perhaps Peter did the exact same thing he did, switched sides for someone he loved. Severus gets up and sits on the other side of Peter as his son, taking his old friend's hand. Peter looks up in surprise, and really, at this point, Severus is operating on the faith that his old friend had a reason, a good one.
"Always waiting," He whispers, Peter's tears fall from his eyes as a small smile breaks out.
"Mary Macdonald and her parents were murdered that day, by Death Eaters. Or so we believed. In truth, Mary was kidnapped and held hostage by Voldemort and, when he died, his left over followers for eighteen years. Specifically, Fenrir Greyback." Remus' voice wavers slightly at Greyback's name, but he forges on.
"How is it that you know any of this?" Scrimgeour asks, "Or are you merely operating on the word of Mr Pettigrew?"
"I know this because I found her." Severus gasps, Peter hunches in on himself some more.
"You found Miss Macdonald?" Remus nods.
"Where is she?" A member of the Wizengamot asks.
"In St Mungos. Her Healer has agreed for her to briefly come here, testify, and then return to the hospital. That is, if you'll hear what she has to say?" Scrimgeour looks around the Wizengamot and is met with no objections, he nods to Remus who pulls out his phone, "We're ready for you." He hangs up, "They're flooing over."
"While we wait, is there anything else you wish to add?"
"Yes, Peter didn't blow up those Muggles. Now, that one I am operating on the word of Peter for, I decided not to view his memories so that they remained un-viewed and you could be sure they were untampered with. If you wouldn't mind?" Scrimgeour nods, Peter walks forth shakily, removing the memory from his head and putting it in the bowl.
"PETER! YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Peter turns at the sound of Sirius' voice. Sirius stalks towards him, shaking with rage.
"You, how could you, you betrayed them," Peter says, though his eyes shift behind Sirius, locking with those of Antonin Dolohov who stands amongst Muggles. Dolohov flexes his hand, drawing attention to the wand in it. Peter pulls out his own wand, pointing it at his finger and severing it.
"YOU'LL BE THE NEXT TO DIE!"
"You told him, how could you?" Peter asks, obviously distressed. His eyes keep flicking back to Antonin. Just as Sirius is raising his wand, Peter notices Antonin do the same. "NO PLEASE DON'T!" Peter screams, obviously, from this perspective, to Antonin, then everything explodes. Peter shrinks into Rat form and scurries away. The memory fades and all are thrown back into their bodies.
"Oh Pete…" Peter spins, seeing Mary, a sob escapes him before he visibly pulls himself together.
"Mary…" Severus says. She's in a wheelchair and looking basically like a skeleton at this point. Her face is sunken, she's obviously malnourished, and so very pale. Her hair looks as dead as the rest of her does, but her eyes…they are haunted, yes, but as full of life as they have ever been.
"Sev," She replies with a small smile, her voice is weak and scratchy.
"I think we've seen enough," A Wizengamot member declares, the others agree.
"Those in favour of pronouncing Peter Pettigrew innocent on all charges?" Everyone raises their hands. "Those in favour of clearing Sirius Black of all charges?" Not everyone raises their hands, but it's enough. Remus nods calmly. He watches Peter move to Mary, kneeling beside her wheelchair and taking her hand.
"Are you okay?"
She nods, "I will be, thanks to you."
Remus looks away. He's happy, truly, but he wishes so badly that could be he and Sirius. Though preferably without the girlfriend and child to complicate matters. "I have another matter to bring up," Remus tells them all, holding back the instinct to wrap his arm around his middle as he feels a small trickle of fresh blood from his wounds, everyone falls silent, "The fact that Sirius was given no trial to begin with." No one interrupts or speaks. "Every suspected Death Eater was given a fair trial, all but Sirius. He didn't even have the bloody mark and still he was just thrown in there. I ask, who the hell were those of you sitting where you are now back then, to decide that a crime was so horrendous the suspected did not even get a trial? What sort of logic is that anyway? Why did no one push the matter?"
"Did you have a point, Mr Malfoy?"
"Yes Minister, my point is simply that the system sucks and everyone involved should have done better. He should be alive right now and he isn't because a bunch of people who did not even fight in the war decided he was guilty. That is my point." Everyone is silent once more. "Oh, and, actually, Bellatrix Lestrange –"
"Ah yes, you are about to convince us that Bellatrix Lestrange is innocent?" Rufus asks. Neville seems rather off-put by the prospect. Harry remembers that it was her who tortured his Aunt Alice and Uncle Frank. Harry puts an arm around Neville comfortingly.
"Was. She's dead." Everyone seems surprised by this, except the students, Peter, Lucius, Arthur, and Severus, of course.
"She what?" Mary asks, Remus winces. "Oh Remy, I'm so sorry."
"N-No don't, don't just shh," Severus tells her, putting a hand over her mouth to prevent her from continuing speaking or calling Remus that again, she raises an eyebrow, he removes it.
"How is it you became friends with them again?"
Severus sighs, "What even was 1978, seriously."
"Guys, for real, in the middle of a blasted trial, do you mind?" Remus requests, though those who know to look for it see the strong tremor in his balled-up hands, "She was, in fact, innocent. At the beginning of the first war, Bellatrix fought with the Order of the Phoenix, against Voldemort. Then, after being captured with Peter on a mission, Sirius and I tried to rescue them and it did not go to plan. A spell was cast on her, one known as the moral reversal spell. It's exactly what it sounds like, reverses the morals of a person. Sirius tried to save her by re-casting it, but it shattered her mind. For years she was, well, we all know how insane she was," Remus tells them, struggling to keep his composure, "In the end, Voldemort killed her because she had somehow regained enough of herself to turn on him once more." Remus stops speaking, unable to continue at the moment, but by this point it's enough to have them listening.
"Mr Pettigrew, might we view your memory of this as well?" Another member of the wizengamot requests. Peter nods, walking back over to the pensieve and removing the memory from his mind, placing it in the dish and viewing it to show the court room.
"…bastards –"
"Bella, for real, bitching and moaning is not going to get us out of here," Peter tells her.
She sighs, "I know, I'm sorry." They hear a crash, both looking up as the door opens by an invisible force, then Sirius pulls off the cloak of invisibility.
"We heard you might need some back up."
"We?" Peter asks as Sirius undoes the chains binding them.
"Remy's upstairs."
"Told you he'd come," Bellatrix tells Peter with a grin.
Peter nods, "Well I didn't disagree."
"Come on, let's get back to the Ord –" Bellatrix is cut off by a beam of solid white light hitting her and knocking her down.
"BELLA!" Peter and Sirius shout, Peter tries to help her up as Sirius stupefys and obliviates the man who had attacked them. Suddenly Peter pushes him out of the way of another curse, this one from Bellatrix.
"What the fuck?!" Sirius shrieks.
"Moral reversal spell, moral reversal spell!" Peter replies, pulling him up and around the corner.
Sirius ducks around it, "Moribus ostendo sum!" He casts the Moral Reversal Spell at her again, Bellatrix is once more knocked to the ground by a solid beam of white light.
"You idiot! We have no idea what that will do!" Peter tells Sirius.
"It's better than doing nothing!"
"Ooooh, blood, pretty," Bellatrix says, looking at her own blood on her hands from a cut on her face. Death Eaters start flooding in from the corridor.
"Pads, we've got to go!"
"We can't leave Bella!"
"I'm kind of thinking she's going to chase after us here, Padfoot."
The two make their way to the ground floor once more, finding Remus locked in a duel with Lucius, though others are surrounding and attacking him as well.
"What the hell happened to Trixie?!" Remus asks Peter and Sirius as they fight.
"Someone gave them the moral reversal spell, which, by the way, casting again does not reverse," Sirius replies, Remus appears too occupied to reply, but Peter's too focused on surviving to pay any of it much heed. They battle their way towards the floo. "Remus, we can't get to her," Sirius calls when it becomes clear they won't be able to incapacitate her and take her with them.
"Crucio!" Rodolphus Lestrange casts, Remus drops to the ground, screaming.
"Stupefy!" Lucius casts, Rodolphus is knocked out and Remus stops screaming, but he's surrounded.
"GO!" Peter feels Sirius push him into the floo, seeing Bellatrix grinning madly before the memory fades.
"What is it with people and crucio-ing you?" Mary asks Remus who ignores her and all the concerned looks he gets. It suddenly occurs to Benni that he's just seen the moment that his sister's Mum went insane, the moment Jamie lost her. He wipes a tear from his eye and makes a mental note to tell her this happened.
"Everyone in favour of pronouncing Bellatrix Lestrange innocent of all charges?" Again, enough raise their hands, but it's a small margin. "I hereby declare Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Sirius Black cleared of all charges against them," Rufus declares.
"If she was influenced by a spell when the wedding took place, does that not mean the marriage between Bellatrix Black and Rodolphus Lestrange is voided?" Arthur Weasley asks.
Scrimgeour nods, "Very true, Bellatrix Black, then. May her memory rest in peace." Remus feels a weight off his shoulders in so many ways, and yet it is all too late. He's shaking, and afraid, and needs to get out of here.
"There is one more thing to address," Scrimgeour tells the group who look at him in confusion, "Do remember that at the time, he was a fugitive, and we felt it best if this were all done quietly," He prefaces, "Mr Black was found alive in the room he died in." Hermione and Harry both gasp, looking to each other. Hermione smiling widely, even Harry can't help but feel the same. "Apparently the arch spit him out again. He was promptly returned to Azkaban, but as he has now been declared innocent…" The Minister waves a hand at two people who leave the room and return a moment later with a rather distressed and confused Sirius Black. Remus' heart stops as Sirius meets his eyes.
"Remus?" Sirius asks, tears in his eyes as his face lights up, Remus lets out what could be a laugh, or possibly a sob, but ends up both. He doesn't think, he just moves. He heads directly over to Sirius, puts a hand on the back of his neck and another on his waist before pulling him in and kissing him. Sirius doesn't hesitate to reciprocate leaving the rest of the room unsure where to look for longer than is socially acceptable. Remus doesn't count, doesn't need to, couldn't, even if he'd tried.
Eventually Remus pulls away, he cups Sirius' face with one hand, the other remaining on the back of his neck.
"Well, that was unexpected," Sirius finally says, Remus just presses their foreheads together for another moment before he steps away, knowing there were others who wanted to say hello. Benni comes up, taking Remus' hand. Remus wraps an arm around his son's shoulders.
"Dad?" Hermione asks.
Sirius looks up at her, tears filling his eyes, "Hermione?" Sirius ignores everything as he moves to his daughter who jumps over the banister and flings herself at him, Harry not far behind, "You know?" He asks Harry who nods.
"Jamie told me."
Sirius holds them both close, "I am so sorry, both of you. Merlin, I love you so much, are you both all right?" They nod, he frowns at Hermione, "Under the circumstances this will no doubt sound odd, and my recent place of residence may have something to do with this but, have we met somewhere before?"
Hermione laughs, nodding, "I was using a glamour charm at the time and the last name Granger."
His eyes widen, "You were so close." She hugs him again. "Did Jamie tell you too?"
"No, Uncle Sev did." She turns back slightly to see Severus' lips quirk in a slight happy smile at the name.
Minister Scrimgeour clears his throat, "I will now dismiss this session, unless there is anyone else you wish to claim innocent? Voldemort himself, perhaps?" Remus goes to argue that point when Lucius and Severus link an arm through each of his.
"Nope, we're good, children, various not-dead people, come along!" Lucius directs, they all go.
"Father, where exactly are we come alonging to?" Draco asks as they walk down the corridor. That pulls Lucius up short. He frowns.
"I have to go back to my Hospital room, you can all go there?" Mary suggests, they all agree and so head to the floos. Then Sirius seems to take in present company.
"Remus, what the ever living fuck?!" Sirius demands, Remus looks confused, "Mary, Wormtail, Lucius freaking Malfoy, what?!"
"Voldemort captured Mary and used her to make Peter do as he said. Peter did not kill the twelve muggles, Antonin made it look like he did, and Voldemort was threatening Mary to get Peter to tell him where James and Lily were. Lucius is the reason we got this trial. Oh, also, Neville's here." Sirius looks around, Harry points at the boy who waves.
"Hi, Uncle Sirius," Neville greets, remembering the name written on the back of some photos.
"Nev," Sirius says, pulling him into a hug. He then moves and hugs Severus, to almost everyone's surprise. Severus just hugs him back. He hugs Benoit who buries his face in his Uncle's shoulder for a long moment. Then Sirius hugs Mary.
"You were in Azkaban?" She asks sadly.
"Twelve and a half years all up," He replies.
"I got you beat on the time being locked up, but I daresay you had it worse."
Sirius chuckles, "For once, I'm good not making everything a competition."
"Oh um, Mary, this is Harrison James Riddle-Potter-Black, and Hermione Antlia Malfoy-Potter-Black," Remus introduces, Mary seems dazed.
Sirius clears his throat, "They're my kids, mine and Del's, but they have different fathers, it's a long story."
"Tell me when I'm not being fed through a tube. Until then, nice to meet you both, never thought I'd see the day Sirius Black had a kid, let alone two."
"Nice to meet you too," They both say at once, chuckling at each other.
Remus then puts a hand on Benni's shoulder, "This is Benoit Lunaire Lupin, my son."
Mary smiles at the boy, "It's nice to meet you, Benoit." Benni smiles at her and nods. "I guess I have a lot to catch up on," Mary states.
Sirius smirks, "As do I."
"Me too, because what the hell?!" Severus asks, pointing to Peter.
"Remus and Wormtail have been talking for at least a few months prior to my death," Sirius tells him, Remus looks at him in shock, "Found an envelope with his handwriting on it next to an empty bottle of whatever it is you'd been drinking." Benoit rolls his eyes at his Father which makes the other kids chuckle.
"I thought we got you out of that habit?" Mary asks, he sighs.
"He fell back into it," Lucius tells her, "More than ever before since Sirius…"
"You cared that much?" Sirius asks him, Remus looks panicked for a moment despite the fact that Sirius had quite happily snogged him back earlier.
"Of course I did, you're one of my best friends, Sirius."
Severus glares at Remus. Near true hatred in his eyes, "Nope, we're not doing this again. For fuck's sake. Sirius loves Remus, Remus loves Sirius, fucking kiss already!" Severus tells them both sternly, Hermione bursts out laughing. Remus knows Sirius loves him, or thought he had. But it had been easy to do so when the man was dead. Now here in all his glory, how can Remus believe this amazing man, that he's so very in love with, could have possibly been pining after a poor Werewolf for so damn long?
"You really love me?" Remus asks Sirius quietly, in Finnish for a bit of privacy.
Sirius huffs and replies in Finnish, "Yes, you great bumbling twat! I love you, I have since I first laid eyes on you! You are everything I have ever wanted in life. The first thing I think of when I wake up, the last I think of before I go to bed no matter how bloody cliché that sounds. All through Azkaban it was the thought of you that kept me going, knowing you were out there. It was my love for you and the bitter pain it brings because you don't love me back that kept my mind in tact. It has always been you for me, Remus," Sirius tells him before switching back to English, "I've always been waiting for you."
Remus' eyes light up at the familiar line. He rests his forehead on Sirius', "All these years, all the clues, you aren't exactly a subtle person, but I never saw…I watched you die and realised that you are a part of everything I am. I lost so much of myself that day and found out that it wasn't just your own feelings I had been blinded to. I love you Sirius Black, and I have for a long time," Remus tells him, Sirius smiles, tears in his eyes. "Forgive me for being an oblivious idiot?"
Sirius chuckles, nodding, "I'd forgive you anything you bloody dolt," He tells him. Remus smiles happily before kissing him again. It's better than Sirius imagined, and for once in his life it feels like everything has fallen into place.
"See, Dad, that's how you tell someone you love them," Hermione tells him when they break apart again. Sirius laughs, pulling away from Remus and throwing an arm around his daughter's shoulders.
"Brat." She grins at him, he pulls away and looks her up and down, suddenly she worries. He grew up rich and she's not exactly that kind of person, and so many people judge her for how she dresses, like it's not 'proper decorum' or something, but he just grins, "Damn you look awesome. See Moony, this here is someone with good fashion sense." Hermione throws her arms around her Dad. "Oh, I'm being hugged for that, okay," He says, hugging her back.
They floo to the hospital in an awkward silence after that, Sirius sketchily looking around at every little movement, Mary falls asleep in her chair, Peter looks a loud noise away from turning into a rat, and no one entirely sure how they should be reacting to recent revelations, old enemies, and no-longer lost friends.
They are all quite glad Mary has a room to herself. The kids all sit in a corner together, deciding to give the adults a chance to sort themselves out and catch up before they intervene again.
"I'm going to head back to school, let everyone know how it went, would you five like to return with me or stay here?" Lucius asks the kids, Draco looks around at them.
"I'll come back with you, you guys spend some time with your other family," Draco tells them, saying good bye and leaving with his Father.
After they leave, a woman with a child walks in.
"You know you're late, right?" She tells Remus who huffs, Mary blinks awake.
"By five minutes and twenty seconds. Now give me the damned child." The woman walks in, handing the kid to him. "Hi there cutie-pie."
"Uncie Moon," The child says happily, giggling. Remus' face lights up, lifting her and bumping their noses together, making the child laugh again.
"It went well?" The woman asks.
Peter stands, embracing the woman, "It went perfectly. Perfecter than perfectly."
Remus rolls his eyes, "It's more perfect, you said that imperfectly."
"Suck an egg, Moony."
"Language!"
"Sorry dear."
"What is happening?" Sirius suddenly asks.
Peter takes a deep breath, "This is my fiancée, Bridget, and my daughter, Rema."
Sirius' eyes widen, "This is why you didn't turn him in?" Sirius asks Remus who nods, turning the child around so that Sirius could see her face.
"Too many children had already lost their parents. I couldn't take away another's Father."
Sirius sighs, looking away and nodding. Remus reaches out and takes his hand, squeezing it gently, Sirius smiles at him, "I suppose I would have done the same. Well, actually I probably would have killed him on sight but, you know, assuming I didn't."
"You say that like Moony didn't try to eat me," Peter grumbles, Remus rolls his eyes. "And growl at me every time we spoke for a good few weeks."
"And then you went and brought Voldemort back from the freaking dead."
"You what?!" Mary screeches, Peter winces.
Remus' eyes widen, "Whoops."
"I can explain," Peter tells her, "I mean, not well, but…"
"First you should know that um, Lily, James, Marlene, your parents, Marlene's family, the Potters minus Del, and Regulus are all dead," Remus tells Mary who gasps, Peter takes her hand comfortingly. "Severus turned on Voldemort in an attempt to save Lily and James, that's how he re-joined us. Obviously you know Peter turned on us to save you. Sirius went to Azkaban for Peter's crimes, Peter went into hiding. Bellatrix was sent insane," Remus continues, voice shaking marginally, he clears his throat and keeps going, "She tortured Alice and Frank. They've been in here ever since. Then she was sent to Azkaban. Somehow, after she escaped, her mind was repaired enough for her to turn on Voldemort who then killed her. Del's been in prison for sixteen years, long story. Tom is currently being possessed by Voldemort. Have I forgotten anyone?"
"Petunia got married to what I am certain is just a ham in an ugly sweater, has a son named Dudley, whole family is horrible," Severus tells her, Remus swats his head, "Oh like you disagree."
"Dudley is young, he could grow up into a nice person, not everyone is eternally bitter like you."
"Not everyone is –"
"Will you both shut it?!" Sirius requests, "I literally just got away from constant screaming, let the headache die before you argue like an old married…anyway." Remus frowns, wrapping his arm around Sirius who smiles happily and leans into it, mindful of the baby on Remus' lap.
"Phia?" Mary asks.
Remus laughs, "She's done brilliantly, successful author, current Queen of Austria, she's happy."
"Queen of what now?" Sirius and Peter ask at once, both awkwardly don't acknowledge it.
"Long story. Um, and, obviously, Peter had a kid."
Mary looks to the child and smirks slightly, "I'm surprised Remus isn't screaming in fright."
"Oh for the love of god, I am not afraid of babies! I have two kids of my own." They hear Hermione and Harry quietly filling Neville in on the story they had been told.
"Neville here is Frank and Alice's boy," Sirius adds.
Mary nods, "You look a lot like them both, actually," She says to Neville who smiles happily, "And you, you look like your Uncle," Mary tells Harry who nods, "Except your eyes, they look weirdly like Lily's, which should not be possible, Remus?"
"Sev and I think Albus performed a partial blood adoption with a strand of Lily's DNA," Remus replies.
"Does this have something to do with why your eyes are a different colour?" Sirius asks, Remus nods.
"Wow, I did not even notice," Harry says, looking at him, the others agree.
"Well, not everyone stares endlessly into his eyes whenever physically possible like a love sick puppy," Severus comments, Sirius glares at him, Remus rolls his eyes.
"Oh, also, Remus and Severus were married," Peter adds, Mary's eyes widen as she looks at them.
"Thanks for that, Pete."
"Any time, Mate."
"We got divorced a few years ago."
"Oh! Andromeda and Ted have a kid!" Sirius remembers, "Which, obviously you know, but we met her again, she and Remus were straight up flirting."
"Yes, I met her this mor-…Remus! She's like half your age! Actually, how old are we? What year is it?" Mary asks, not sounding distressed but very curious, and sleepy.
"It's 1996, we are both thirty-seven, Dora is twenty-one. That is more than half my age, so fuck you."
"Yeah but she's only, what, three years older than your own daughter?" Sirius asks, Remus glares at him.
"And you knew her when she was a baby! Your name was her first word! Perverted freak!" Mary exclaims.
"I will legitimately suffocate you, arsehole."
"Okay, students in the room, let's keep this PG," Severus requests.
"You have a daughter?" Mary asks Remus who nods.
"Her name's Jamie, she's eighteen. Oh, Severus is Potions' Master and Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts," Remus adds, "Lucius is DADA teacher."
"What are you doing?" Mary asks Remus who frowns.
"Running."
"Death Eaters are hunting him," Severus tells her.
Mary looks concerned, "I guess you joined the war then?"
"Yeah, after you 'died' I decided I couldn't let anyone else die without trying to help them."
"That's what Voldemort was talking about yesterday?" She asks, Remus flinches, though all know it's not at the name.
"He was bloody good at it too," Sirius says, trying to change the subject a tad, his voice taking on a sad note.
"Speaking of yesterday, did you ever get those cuts healed?" Mary asks, everyone looks to him in concern.
He sighs, "No, I did not."
"Rem…" Severus tells him.
Remus sighs again, "Your slashing curse," He explains.
Severus' eyes widen, "Where?"
"Severus I'm fi –"
"Where." Remus glares at him for a moment before unbuttoning his shirt, carefully manoeuvring Rema, Severus moves forward and heals the cuts, both ignoring the gasps from everyone else when they see the cuts and the dripping lines of blood from where he accidentally reopened them during the trial.
"Excuse me," Remus says as soon as Severus finishes, leaving the room.
"Yeah he's flooing to the closest bar," Severus says with a sigh.
"How bad is it?" Bridget asks, "I mean I watched him scull half a bottle of vodka in three seconds but, was that just a bad day?"
"You know when he's had a bad full moon but is determined to act like everything is fine?" Severus asks, Bridget nods, "Imagine that determination put towards drinking himself into a grave." Everyone in the room winces at that description, apt though it may be.
"Everyone here knows about Moony then?" Mary asks.
Sirius nods, "Whole damned world knows Remus is a Werewolf."
"Damn," Mary comments, Sirius nods, "How'd everyone find out?"
"I told them," Severus admits, Mary's glare could cut through glass. This earns her points in the eyes of the students. "One mistake, Mar, we made one mistake and he nearly killed five people, three of them being students. I couldn't keep taking that risk. My damned marriage ended because of that decision, well, and some other shit, but that was the breaking point, so believe me when I say I did not make the decision lightly."
Mary nods, "Still not happy, but circumstances happen. Besides, always waiting, so you guys are okay, right?" Severus nods. "Brill."
"Oh no, no, you have got to stop saying that," Hermione tells her, she looks confused, "What? It's so two decades ago, can you imagine the shit Ginny'll give her if she says that in front of her?"
"I cannot believe that sentence just came out of your mouth," Harry tells her, she shoves him, "Oh come on, she's just been freed, give her a break."
"Ignore the teenagers," Severus suggests.
"Or threaten to poison their toads, both work," Harry says, Severus glares at him, Neville and Hermione both look away.
"Oh you didn't…" Mary says.
Severus sighs, "Remus has bitched at me enough for a lifetime about it."
"So um…you guys realise Uncle Remus took the baby with him, right?" Neville asks, Bridget and Peter exchange looks.
"O level parenting right here," Bridget comments, dropping her head into her hands.
"We knew Remus was holding her, at that point my brain decided to take a break because she's safe," Peter says.
Severus chuckles, "You look like James, Lily, and Del after Harry was born."
"Ouch, that hurts, Sev," Peter comments, Severus and the kids seem amused.
"So, if Mary's free, does that mean you aren't working for Voldemort anymore?" Harry asks Peter who nods, "Are you fighting for us?"
"No. Partially because I think half the Order would kill me on sight, and also because I want to see my daughter grow up."
Harry nods, "Good answer. Go have family life, stupid war can go suck a freaking egg."
"Are you all right, Harry?" Sirius asks him in concern.
He shakes his head, "No, no I am not."
"What's wrong?"
"The Headmaster and I had an interesting conversation a few days ago. If I were a Werewolf, I think I would have eaten him, full moon or no."
"Wow I'm getting flashbacks," Severus says. Mary, Peter, and Sirius chuckle.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Harry shakes his head, "Another time. I'm too busy sulking."
"He's definitely your kid, Sirius," Mary tells him. Sirius smiles and nods, but he can't help thinking this kind of behaviour in common has more to do with their similar childhoods of abuse and neglect than any familial connection. Sirius hears the door open and panics, instinctually turning into a dog and hiding in the corner.
Severus pulls out his phone. "Calling Remus," He tells the others who seem to agree with the course of action.
"Is he all right?" Healer Richards asks.
Peter shakes his head, "Not in any sense of the word."
The woman does some checks over Mary, nodding to herself. "If things progress as they are, you should be able to head home tomorrow, provided someone can look after you, that is."
"You're welcome to stay with us but, the baby might interrupt sleep," Bridget tells her, she smiles in thanks.
"You can stay at my house. Sirius, Remus and a few old friends stay there," Severus tells her.
She nods, "That would be good, thank you."
Knowing plans have been arranged, the Healer nods at them and leaves the room.
"Remus is on his way back."
"Least he hasn't been gone long enough to be drunk?" Peter offers after the healer leaves.
"Sirius left for half an hour once and came back to find an empty bottle," Harry tells them before continuing to try and calm Sirius. Said alcoholic Werewolf then walks into the room and hands Rema to her father.
"Sirius?" He asks, looking at Severus who points at the corner, Remus goes and sits beside the dog, "Pads?" The dog sniffs, recognises him, and then moves to have the front half of his body on Remus' lap. Remus strokes through his fur soothingly, "What happened?"
"Loud noise," Harry replies, Remus nods, Padfoot whimpers. Remus moves the dog so that he can actually hug him close, he settles pretty quickly after that, breathing in Remus' scent at his neck. Remus lets him, surprised to find the action doesn't worry Moony at all.
"How did you find Mary?" Severus asks Remus quietly, Remus looks over to find Mary has fallen asleep again.
"Long story."
"She'll be coming back to Grimmauld Place when she's released which, hopefully, will be tomorrow," Severus tells him.
Remus nods, then something occurs to him, "So, if Sirius is back, he gets custody of Hermione, they both live at Grimmauld Place, does that mean I don't have to go back?"
"You were going to go back for me?" Hermione asks.
Remus nods, "Don't exactly have another place that would be safe enough while I'm still being hunted."
Hermione smiles, walking over and hugging him, mindful of her dog-father, "Thank you."
Remus smiles lightly, "Any time."
"I think Sirius would really appreciate it if you were there," Harry points out. Remus sighs, knowing he doesn't want to leave his Padfoot again.
Remus looks down at the dog sitting in his lap with his paws on either side of Remus' head, his own head tucked into Remus' neck, and sighs again, "Fine, but I'm not apologising to Albus."
"No apology is necessary," A voice says from the door as Albus Dumbledore walks in, "You have fair reason to be upset." At his voice, both Mary and Sirius wake up, Sirius transforming back into a human and shifting so as to be sitting in Remus' lap normally instead of in a position only socially appropriate for a dog. Remus wraps his arms around the man's waist, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"Headmaster."
"I am most pleased and, well, surprised, to find you are both alive," Albus tells Sirius and Mary, "Welcome back."
"Thank you, Sir," Sirius tells him.
"Miss Macdonald, I owe you an apology. If I had known you were alive…"
"I know Sir, it's all right. I'm free now."
"Yes, I hear we owe your presence here today to both Remus and Mr Pettigrew." Peter gulps slightly, handing Rema over to Bridget who looks tense.
"He was found innocent," Neville can't help but point out.
Albus nods, "I am well aware. It is good to see you again, Mr Pettigrew," He says, holding a hand out for Peter to take. He shakes it, releasing a breath. The old man then turns to Sirius, "Your actions were noble, we are all grateful," Albus tells him, Sirius just leans into Remus' side. "Under the circumstances, Minerva and I have agreed that you four may have a few days to stay with your family. Severus, you will need to return to school." Severus nods, the four children looking surprised but happy. The two say good bye to everyone, Severus hugging Benoit tightly, before leaving.
"Neville, I understand if you'd rather not but, it's been a while since I've visited Alice and Frank, so I thought, while we're here…would you care to join me," Remus asks. Neville looks up, uncertain for a moment before nodding. "Anyone else?" Peter shrinks away, Remus makes a mental note of that, knowing it will need to be addressed.
"I'll come," Sirius says, "I didn't have a chance last time." No one misses the fact that he doesn't want to be without Remus. Benni gets up and grabs hold of his Père's hand. The four leave the room, Hermione melts into her Brother's side.
"Um, Harry, Hermione, I just –" Peter begins.
Harry shakes his head, "Were he to have taken Hermione or Ron or Draco, I'd have done the same thing. You owe me no apology."
"Nor me. Though, I think Mum might appreciate you visiting her so that she knows you are okay," Hermione says, Peter nods thoughtfully. "We could too," She tells Harry who looks down.
"I'm sure Sirius or Uncle Moony would be more than willing to take you along," Harry tells her. She frowns but doesn't push, deciding to bring it up again later. There's silence for a moment before Harry speaks up, "So, if you're our Uncle, does that mean Rema is our cousin like Neville is?"
Peter smiles, "If you still consider me your Uncle, then yes." Harry and Hermione immediately begin to coo over their cousin, Peter laughs, smiling brightly. Bridget takes a photo.
A while later Remus, Sirius, and Neville have returned, when Tonks shows up again.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" She asks.
Sirius grins, walking over and hugging her, "Hey baby cousin, how are you?"
"Very confused, how are you?"
"Very alive."
"As I can see."
"Moony kissed me."
"YES!" Tonks yells excitedly.
Remus buries his face in his hands, "I hate you both."
"I happen to have it on very good authority that you love me very much, actually," Sirius replies, looking smug and also the happiest he's ever been in a while despite being twitchy and far too skinny after his recent stay in Azkaban. Remus just smiles indulgently at him. "I've been in Azkaban again."
Tonks hugs her cousin again, "Who are the random people?"
"Well, that's Bridget, that's my God-Daughter Rema, Bridget's daughter, and that's Peter, Rema's Father," Remus explains.
Tonks frowns, looking at Peter. "You look familiar…oh son of a bitch, Remus John Malfoy what did you do?!"
"He and Sirius have been found innocent on all charges. Now, Bridget here is my old boss, you know, we were talking about her last night?" Tonks looks at Remus with a 'bitch wanna start with me?' face, Remus grins toothily.
"You little shit. I assume Mr Pettigrew was present as well?"
"Indeed he was."
Tonks crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at Remus, "Well, thank Merlin I just happened to be waiting until now to question Bridget and Mary, else Pettigrew may have found himself in a spot of trouble."
"Yes, how very lucky," Remus says with a calm smile.
Tonks rolls her eyes, "I need statements from you three about Mary's capture and escape, everything you know. Everyone else, if you would please wait outside?"
"We'll take Rema, if you like?" Harry offers. Bridget chuckles at his obvious adoration for the baby, handing the child over.
"Hawwyyy," Rema calls excitedly, as though it had been over thirteen seconds since she'd last seen him.
"Hi!"
"Quit hogging the baby, Harry!" Hermione complains.
"Hey, I haven't held her at all!" Neville points out.
"I will take her off all three of you if you keep behaving like children," Remus warns, they quieten down. Sirius takes Remus' free hand, the other being held by Benni, as they walk out with the kids.
"Did you mean what you said to Peter?" They hear Hermione ask Harry who heaves a sigh.
"I did, and all of that I really could have let go but…"
"Cedric," Hermione guesses, Harry nods. She wraps an arm around her brother, "Did you end up having to show them that memory?"
"No, the one of Godric's Hollow was enough." Sirius looks to Remus in concern.
Remus sighs, "Harry showed his memory of the night James and Lily died to prove your innocence," Remus explains quietly as they take a seat in the waiting area.
"Why would you let him do that?!"
"It wasn't my idea! Besides, I haven't really been able to be around much, I'm still being hunted. Well, possibly, depends how deep…anyway, we can talk about that later."
"You should have been safe at Grimmauld Place though," Sirius tells him. Remus winces, biting his lip. Sirius smirks at it, Remus looks at him and blushes. Then Sirius leans in and kisses him, "You know, when we aren't in such a public place I am finally going to do what I've been wanting to since the first time I saw you do that."
Remus smiles, "And what's that?" he asks, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Not something we want to hear about," Harry interjects. Remus looks at them and flushes when he sees how close they are sitting.
Sirius just smirks, "Grimmauld Place," Sirius says again.
Remus sighs, "I quit the Order."
Sirius' eyes widen, "You what?" Remus nods. "But-wha-why?"
"It's a long story."
"A lot of things seem to be with you at the moment. Are they really or do you just not want to explain?"
"Either? Both?"
"Was it because of me?"
"No, it was a few months after…" Remus closes his eyes, looking away and taking a shaky breath. He wipes his hands on his pants as he shakes his head and chuckles humourlessly, "Damn I could really use a drink." Benoit rolls his eyes and starts looking through the magazines they have in the waiting area.
Sirius looks sad, "You know, I remember the first time I saw you tipsy, when you showed up late to Transfiguration in fourth year. If I had known how that would progress I'd have done more to stop it then and there."
Remus rolls his eyes, "And not use it as a bargaining chip you mean?"
Sirius chuckles, "God we had no idea how quickly things could go bad."
"Or that there were actual consequences for our actions."
Sirius leans his forehead on Remus' shoulder, "Are things ever going to be okay again, Moony?"
Remus sighs, putting an arm around him, "I don't know that they ever have been, Padfoot."
"Well aren't you lot the life of the party," Harry comments dryly.
Sirius frowns at him, "You are in one hell of a mood."
"Oh, that reminds me!" Hermione says before slapping Harry over the back of the head.
"Um, ow!"
"You and I need to talk about what Professor Malfoy told me."
Harry seems confused, then resigned, "Yeah, I know."
"Now! Come on." She then drags him down a corridor, Neville moves to sit closer to Sirius and Remus, Rema playing with some toys kept for children in the waiting room with Benoit who had gotten bored with the magazines in under three seconds.
"So, Malfoy?" Sirius asks.
Remus rubs a hand over his face, "A long story, and it actually is. It involves a very convoluted plan, Black Manor, an ambush, an assassination plot, regicide, politics, and my sister showing up again after almost a decade of pretending I don't exist."
"Does this have something to do with her being the Queen of whatever?" Remus nods. "Right, that does sound like a long story."
"Can I ask something?" Neville requests hesitantly, Remus and Sirius turn to him, both nodding.
"Of course," Remus tells him.
"My parents, how did they meet? My Gran doesn't know anything except in school," He asks.
"Honestly, I'm not sure either. Frank was the year above us, first I remember hearing about him is when Lily told us Alice had a crush on him. She'd gone to sit in his carriage with him on the way to school after the train," Remus tells him.
Sirius frowns as he thinks, "I think I remember seeing them in the library together before that, with a few of Frank's friends as well."
"What were you doing in the library?" Remus asks.
"The silencing charm for the cloak." Remus smiles dopily, Sirius rolls his eyes, "Yes, yes, I did research for you, we've been over this."
"But not while I've known why! I didn't even know how long it had been until Wormtail told me," Remus tells him, Sirius raises an eyebrow at that, Remus hesitates, "The point is, sadly, we don't know how they first met either, but I think there is a good chance Mary will." Neville nods, looking satisfied. Harry and Hermione walk back in at that point, Hermione sitting down and pointedly ignoring everything while Harry seems perfectly at ease and calm. Sirius' sarcasm takes root.
"The cheer in this room is bloody overwhelming."
NOTE:
So I know Harry's mood is swinging wildly in this chapter, it'll be explained in two chapters time, so just stay with me.
Anyway
SURPRISE! Sirius is alive! And they are finally finally together! I've waited months to write this part! (And years to upload it omg)