The Contract

Chapter 100

Sirius snapped out of his thoughts, turning back to Remus having entirely forgotten he was there. Shifting rather uncomfortably, Merlin, he'd dreamed about such a thing happening…usually followed by more, not being cockblocked – not fun at all. Breathing out shakily, no, it…this…was for the best, Rodolphus…they had to talk, they couldn't do what he hoped they could…not without some conversation. As lovely as the dreams were…he'd rather not get invested until he knew there was a reason to be invested. His heart couldn't take it if it was just Rodolphus scratching an itch. There was no chance Rodolphus wanted more…was there?

"What do you want?" Sirius asked Remus, setting aside his turbulent emotions, staring at Remus, which he knew was definitely not a friendly stare. He hadn't expected to see Remus again, he seemed very good at hiding, an expected it to continue.

"To…to…to talk," Remus said, feeling very wrongfooted right now and devastated. Between Rodolphus' not so subtle threat and the way Sirius was reacting/acting. He was clearly still angry, but he'd thought when Sirius gave him the money he was coming around. Although, after he received the money, there hadn't been hide nor hair of Sirius. He could have hired someone to find him…but that would be costly. He'd thought about sending an owl off, but every time he tried writing he just felt at loss of what to say.

Then he heard people talking about this shop, about Sirius who apparently owed it. The things that had been invented, James and Sirius had always been smart, but they'd always needed his help. He had ultimately always been behind their creations being a success with his ability to do research. He felt a great deal of disbelief that Sirius had created enough – on his own – to open a shop. He'd altered the Marauders map to give each new student at Hogwarts who bought one the ability to navigate the castle effortlessly. The blood live tracking rune, enabled the student to always know where they were, and the best and quickest way to get to class just by simply tapping on the classroom on the map. That was just one of the many items that he'd been made aware of just listening to everyone talk about the new shop.

The Patronus globe and mirrors were by far the most gossiped about items. Sooner or later Sirius would need his help, they could do this together. He'd thought, he could look after Sirius as he needed – Sirius wasn't cut out for independence, too headstrong, too stubborn and more importantly impulsive not a good combination – and he would have the money he needed to keep taking the Wolfsbane potion.

"I thought I'd made myself pretty clear the last time," Sirius bit out, anger blazing in his grey eyes. He couldn't curse the Dursley's nine ways to Sunday so Remus was the closest he could get to taking his frustration out on. If only Remus had cared, maybe Harry wouldn't have nearly fucking died. Thank Merlin Corvus turned out to be a decent wizard, someone who had respected Dorea enough to take care of her grandchild to the greatest extent of his abilities. Gritting his teeth, "Do you even care about anyone but yourself?"

Remus flinched back, acting as though he'd been physically struck by Sirius' words. "You know that's not true," he rasped out, shoulders hunching tiredly, Merlin help him, he was just so exhausted all the damn time. Tired of stressing out, tired of being alone, tired of being afraid. The most normal he'd felt was during his Hogwarts education. He was hoping to reclaim some semblance of it.

"Do I? Do I really?" Sirius bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. "Then were was that care? Where were you? Oh, I know! Looking after yourself as always," he spat bitterly. Why did he have such crap bloody friends? No, it wasn't true, two bad friends didn't mean all of them were. James…James was the best friend he'd ever have; nobody would be able to replace him. "Just like Pettigrew!"

"I…I'm nothing like him!" Remus protested; eyes wide in horror. "I would never betray my friends!" he yelled out furious with Sirius' words, how dare he compare him to that rat?

"You did! You absolutely did!" Sirius spat out rage thrumming through every bone in his body. When he'd spoken to Remus that first time, nobody had known about the abuse. He had been still bound by the secrecy oath…now though? Now with the entire world aware he wasn't bound to silence. He lurched towards Remus, intending on pummelling him to death. Only to be yanked back by arms wrapping around his middle, when he was a hairs brength from crunching Remus' nose. "You think James would be sitting laughing with you? Want anything to do with you right now? You abandoned Harry! You abandoned their son! If you had just not been a coward for five minutes, you'd have known something was wrong! You could have saved him from a lifetime of abuse! You, you, merlin-damned son of a bitch!" unable to come up with a good enough insult to spew at Remus.

"He's not worth it," Rodolphus said quietly, stopping him from having a physical altercation with Remus in his shop. It wasn't a wizards go to, it broadcasted just how unmoored and furious Sirius was that he wasn't even thinking of magic at the moment. That type of rage…he knew it all to well, and how dangerous it could be.

"I…I didn't know…" Remus said backing away, swallowing thickly, amber eyes filling with unshed tears. "I didn't know…" he repeated, he couldn't be blamed for that, not for wanting to protect Harry. "I…you can't blame me for that."

Sirius scoffed, loud and derisively, before shouting, "Oh, please! You knew what Petunia was like! It didn't fucking enter your pea sized brain to actually think to yourself…I'll at least go and check in on my best friends' son?!" trying to get at Remus again, but Rodolphus was an unmovable force. "You just ran like a coward! After everything we did for you! EVERYTHING! WE TRAINED FOR YEARS TO BECOME ANIMAGI FOR YOU! A BOY WE'D ONLY KNOWN A YEAR! KEPT YOUR SECRETS! DID EVERYTHING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, AND YOU COULDN'T SPARE A SECOND OF YOUR TIME TO CHECK ON MY GODSON! I WISH LILY WAS HERE SHE WOULD CURSE YOU TO HELL AND BACK!" oh she had always been inventive with her spellcasting.

"I…I…I," Remus was speechless, he had nothing to say that could even come half way close to defending himself or the accusations Sirius had laid against him.

"James and Lily themselves would kill you if they were here," Sirius hissed, spittle spraying everywhere. Grey eyes gleaming with madness, he wanted to make Remus hurt, to feel a little of what his godson had endured and then see if he'd say it wasn't his fault. "If I see you again…I'm going to kill you!" he declared, trying to bodily throw himself at Remus again.

"Leave," Rodolphus declared darkly, gripping Sirius tightly, with the regime at the hospital they'd been in…he found it difficult to contain Sirius unsurprisingly. "Before I make you," Sirius wasn't thinking clearly, and as lovely as it would be to see Sirius give himself to that righteous fury, to let him deal with Remus the way he sees fit. Unfortunately, it was much too public, the public were all watching the spectacle. The front door had not been closed properly, and thus every single one of them had just heard the threat levied against Lupin.

There were young children – without adults present – with their noses pressed against the window watching with avid fascination. If he wasn't mistaken, a few pictures had also been taken.

Not that he believed anyone would give a shit if Lupin disappeared…or if anyone would figure it out. He had no friends, no family, moving from place to place in the worst places in London. He was a Nomad, a wanderer, which was normal for his kind, even if he was masquerading as a wizard. Maybe one day he could convince Sirius to take the righteous fury he felt out on the wizard…it would be a good bonding experience but he didn't think Sirius – even in all his true anger – could kill someone unless in self-defence.

That was okay though, Rodolphus had more than enough bloodthirst for both of them.

He'd just add Lupin to the list of people to take care of, the Dursley's were first on the list.

Luckily, they had all the time in the world and he and his brother had learned the good quality that patience was. It was a virtue, a must, especially when it came to getting revenge.

Remus didn't waste time scrambling out of the door, glancing back at Sirius pale and shaken, the crowd parting like the sea to get away, bumping into people before he Apparated away a sickly green hue to his face.

Honestly, nobody would be surprised if he upchucked all over himself after reaching his destination.

"You can…you can let me go now," Sirius said, slumped a little in sudden exhaustion.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" Rodolphus asked, tightening his hold on Sirius.

Sirius elbowed Rodolphus, making him grunt and let him go, dark eyes filled with surprise at Sirius' move. "Was that all for his benefit?" he asked, unable to keep the bitterness from his tone.

Rodolphus paused, sensing how close to the edge Sirius truly was with everything, the lack of sleep, the guilt he obviously still harboured over what happened, Lupin and evidently him. Flicking his wand, he closed and locked the shop doors before the shutters came down encasing them in a little darkness and privacy. "No," he told Sirius quietly, despite the fact they had privacy, he believed though, that Sirius was suffering from at least a headache judging by the way he was rubbing his temples. "No, it wasn't, not entirely." Unable to lie to Sirius.

Sirius' grey eyes came up, meeting Rodolphus' gaze for the first time in weeks, head on. "What do you mean entirely?" his voice deceptively calm. Wondering why Remus had even come to his shop in the first place. It wasn't like Remus was in the wizarding world much, hell it took the PI ages to find him because of that fact.

"It's partly why I acted to impulsively," Rodolphus confessed, causing Sirius to startle in confusion. Which was wrong of him, he had been raised better than that. Sirius deserved nothing but the best.

"Did I ask that out loud?" he hadn't done that in a long, long time.

Rodolphus' lips twitched as he nodded, not letting him know he did it more often than he thought. "Indeed," he replied, "I meant what I said earlier, we need to talk." He didn't want to do it standing up, Sirius looked ready to fall over despite the hours of sleep he'd had. "Go sit down, I'll make us something to drink." He told Sirius sternly, despite wanting something much, much stronger. They both needed a level head for this conversation, nothing less would do.

Rodolphus wasn't surprised when Sirius complied, he'd stopped being surprised a long time ago. Sirius was naturally quite submissive when he wasn't wound up tighter than a clock. He needed a little help taking care of himself, and as of late…Sirius wasn't doing a good job of it. He had been remis of himself for not stepping in sooner but he'd wanted Sirius to make that decision on his own without any interference. Least of all any interference from him.

Still, he didn't know exactly what Sirius wanted, it was time to find out. See if they could make it work together.

Handing over a mug of coffee, he summoned a chair and sat down in front of the sofa where Sirius was currently situated. "What do you want to discuss first? Lupin or our kiss?"

Sirius' face went red at the reminder, shifting slightly, Merlin, he felt like he was fourteen again. Uncomfortable boners should be a thing of the past, he was surprised it still worked, really, until he felt attraction to Rodolphus he hadn't had any sort of erection for well over a decade. "Remus, what did you talk about before I interrupted you? What did he want?" he asked, he needed a few moments to calm the hell down.

Rodolphus nodded, giving Sirius a knowing look, they'd suffered through the same hell. He understood what Sirius was going through because he was himself. Their emotions were heightened due to the long suffering of no emotions for over a decade. It made them feel like they were going through puberty again. Without the impulsivity on Rodolphus' part but Sirius was impulsive all the same anyway. "He asked to see you, I told him you were unavailable." He told Sirius without preamble; hands wrapped around the cup giving himself some warmth. He loathed any sort of coldness or chill.

"Then how do you know what he wanted…you read his mind?" he was aware that Corvus, Rabastan and Rodolphus were very good at the mind arts. All purebloods were taught from a young age to close their mind off from intrusion…also helped along by the fact it helped them with composure. To be the perfect little pureblood heirs that wouldn't embarrass their families. Meditation was a doorway to closing one's mind after all. He would have felt that it was wrong, but his desire to know what on earth Remus was here for far outweighed any guilt.

"For a brief moment," Rodolphus informed him, not the slightest bit guilty. He had tried to give Sirius time, to remain out of it. Fortunately, he had decided against it, as lovely as seeing Sirius beat the crap out of Remus, he'd rather not have Sirius end up back in Azkaban for assault. It would have been too public to be brushed under the rug, plus, who knows what Lupin would have done? Not getting his way he may well have actually pressed charges as cowardly as he was.

"What did he want?" Sirius asked, "Does he intend to start legal proceedings for the inventions?" his heart sinking at the thought, technically he supposed, he did have rights to a few of the inventions, he had helped with their original creations. Although, arguments could be made that they'd been altered from their original design, making him unable to get any more money from him if he did go down that road.

"Nothing of the sort," Rodolphus replied, and it would never happen, if for a second he heard rumours of such a thing he'd kill Lupin without hesitation. He was not going to get a single sickle more from Sirius. The werewolf had already gotten more than enough from Sirius, the generous amount he'd given him had almost made Rodolphus balk but it was Sirius' life. "Are you sure you want to know what he was thinking?"

"That bad, huh?" Sirius asked drinking his coffee, anxiety beginning to skitter down his spine.

"Just how often did you and…James keep Lupin going after Hogwarts?" Rodolphus asked, his gaze impenetrable as he stared at Sirius.

Sirius frowned, caught of guard, "Um, well, my Uncle Alphard gave me some savings in his will…" he'd felt awful afterwards, for writing off all the Black family including his uncle. "I bought myself a property, so I'd always have somewhere to live…I didn't know how long the war would last and how long it would take before I could get a job after that…"

Rodolphus nodded, smart, at least he had thought that far ahead.

"Anyway, I, um," Sirius scratched his head, "We were happy to help out, the wolfsbane was expensive. None of us could brew worth a shit, so it's not like we could actually just buy the ingredients and brew it for him. When James got control of his estate, he took over helping Remus, giving him money every month…by then the money my uncle had given me had dwindled considerably. I hadn't even been too bad…only got the house and a motorbike and essentials." He had splurged on a toy broomstick for his godson with the last of the money but it was his birthday! He couldn't not get his godson something.

"How long did you help him after your Uncle Alphard died?" Rodolphus asked, narrowing his eyes in contemplation. There were two years between Alphard and the Potter's passing. Two years of buying the wolfsbane potion…it was little wonder his savings had dwindled into nothing.

"Two years and three months, or thereabouts, I can't recall how many months it was." Sirius shrugged completely indifferent. He meant what he said, he had been happy to help Remus when he needed it most. He wouldn't lift a finger to help him now though, not after what he'd done. Or the lack of what he had done if Sirius wanted to be accurate.

"Loyalty is one of the most attractive qualities about you, and I am sorry that it was wasted on him." Rodolphus said quietly, Sirius had seen himself almost penniless to help a friend who wouldn't lift a finger to fight for him. It was sickening really.

"Why did you ask?" Sirius questioned, finishing off the cup of coffee feeling much more at ease.

"Lupin was…aware of your attraction to him while you were teens," Rodolphus informed him, causing Sirius to sit at attention in surprise mouth agape. "He desired to take advantage of that, not on a conscious level, but he realized that the money you gave him would only see him through two maybe three years before it ran out if he used it sparingly and found places that were cheap to rent. He realized it would be…advantageous if you became a couple, he'd have a permanent place of residence, a job of sorts, and money. He believed it would be repayment enough by looking after you, and helping with your shop and inventions. He was…very surprised when he heard you had created everything yourself without needing his input or help." Giving him full disclosure and the complete truth. He didn't manipulate it to his own ends, he didn't need to.

He wanted Sirius for himself, he'd do anything to get him, even play dirty, he was a Slytherin? What could anyone expect? Not that he had to play dirty, oh no, Lupin had put the noose around his own neck as surely as he would hang himself.

Sirius just continued to gape, speechless beyond belief.

Silence settled between them for a few minutes, disturbed but not horribly so. "You're not joking, are you?" he choked out, "Are you really trying to tell me that Remus was using us all this time? That he didn't care?" horrified to the very core of him. It had taken so long to accept he'd been blind to Pettigrew…but now this?

"Not consciously," Rodolphus told him, "He did care, in the only real way he's capable. He holds himself back expecting to be abandoned, even with your utter acceptance of who he was. It's a rather Slytherin move I must confess, we might be known for our cunning…but it doesn't mean we are not loyal to those we let close, he does not follow the same…especially if it's a risk to his own personal safety." Hence why he'd never once tried to get a trial for Sirius presumably.

Sirius felt gutted, he wasn't sure why, it's not as if he cared about Remus anymore. That had been well and truly bled out of him. Opportunity after opportunity, he'd hoped that Remus would get his head out of his ass even if he was pissed. Yet no attempt at communication had been made. Not when he'd been released, not while he had been on the mend in St. Mungo's, not after his release…nothing and it had been two years now. Two whole years since he had been proven innocent, that Pettigrew was the guilty party. He had reached out, admittedly out of anger and rage, to try and see if there was a reason for Remus' actions. Even all the while knowing that there was no excuse available in the world that would make him less furious over Remus' abandonment of his godson.

"It's better that you know now," Rodolphus said quietly, sensing the turmoil that Sirius was going through. He could only imagine that he couldn't understand, couldn't imagine anyone being anything less than so completely loyal. If there was one thing Sirius was, it was loyal to his very core. So much so he would have given the werewolf the clothes of his back and the last of his money. Basically had, he would have found himself in a bit of a pickle if he hadn't ended up in Azkaban. "The last thing you need with your newfound freedom is to get back into old habits, or be with people who clearly don't give you even once ounce of loyalty that you give them." His declaration vehement.

Stomach twisting unpleasantly, what did he have instead? What was his? The Lestrange family was really Harry's, his family, the people he held most dear. His mind sinking in doubt and despair. Was he unlikeable? Was he truly too much that his friends only became his friends to lie, cheat or worse…for the fortune? Bad enough Pettigrew was a spy who willingly handed them over on a silver platter…would Remus have done the same

"You have Arthur, you are becoming friends with Amelia Bones, with my brother, my father, you have Harry who would burn the world down around him to keep those he loves safe." Seeing the look on Sirius' face he continued, "With that same staunch loyalty that you have even if it took a while to reach it and claim it. It wasn't easy for us either…Harry's quite rightly cautious about whom he trusts."

Those words seem to lift the veil that Sirius was immersing himself in. The self-pity and self-doubts about who he was as a person. He couldn't help but smile, it was all true, Harry was very loyal to those he cares about. He did have trouble letting people in…but he'd gotten past that barrier, he was worth it. "I would have you know…"

"Would have what?" Rodolphus asked him, as if he didn't already realize what Sirius was alluding to.

"Accepted him back," Sirius confessed, hunching his shoulders, "If I didn't have you, Rabastan, Arthur…the shop…I was…I was so lonely," still was when he went back to his flat to sleep. The rest of his time was spent with Rodolphus and the other Lestranges during the evening. As angry as he was, ultimately without his strong bond to his godson and the Lestrange's he would have taken what Remus was offering and been so very grateful for it. Would never have realized he was being used…worst of it was that apparently Remus wasn't even aware he was doing it.

"You do have us," Rodolphus declared strongly, "That makes all the difference." The coffee laying almost untouched and cold. He understood loneliness, but for the past few years, he had his brother and father every week for hours, it…helped while in Azkaban but right until the end Sirius had nobody. "You don't have to accept meagre pickings of adequacy." He wouldn't allow anyone like that into Sirius' life.

"I know," Sirius murmured, his hand brushing through his hair, he was so tired that his entire body ached with it. It didn't help lying on a couch – as comfortable as it was – in an uncomfortable position for hours.

"As for us," Rodolphus said slowly, "I would very much like to ask you to enter into a betrothal contract with me." He already had one with Bellatrix, but Sirius hadn't so if it was put in Sirius' name it would be official. Despite being the next in line, Orion and Walburga had not written one up for either son. His father often wondered if it was because Cygnus had refused to let any of his daughters be betrothed to Sirius or Regulus to 'keep it in the family' instead giving them socially 'respectable' marriages. Even Wizardkind had been rather aghast by Orion and Walburga's marriage.

Sirius' breathing hitched, "Are you mad?!" he yelped out, his voice slightly raspy.

"Well, you are attracted to me, so that cannot be the problem." Rodolphus declared smugly, he had felt Sirius' reaction to him during their brief kiss. He was rather hoping for more, but judging by Sirius' reaction it might take a while to convince him. He would do it properly, the kiss had been impulsive, and he should have waited but Sirius was…worth bending the rules for.

"Look there's no way your father will sign anything like that! I'm not a carrier!" Sirius protested hotly, standing up, moving away from the wizard. "And as far as I know…neither are you…are you?" blinking owlishly at Rodolphus.

Rodolphus chuckled, "No, no I'm not,"

"There!" Sirius threw his hands up, "We'd just be setting ourselves up for disappointment!" he stated, as if he wasn't already disappointed.

"You're forgetting something fundamentally important…" Rodolphus pointed out, "They're very close to creating a potion that will strip a child of its identity and replace it with new parents so that at a cellular level that child will be accepted by even the strictest of families." It was one of the companies that the Potters were invested in as a matter of fact, Harry was funding their experimental potions.

Sirius stiffened, turning back to face Rodolphus, his face earnest, he really wanted this. Licking his lips, could his dreams all be coming true? It didn't normally happen for him…but then he thought back on the years with the Potters, his godson, yes, he had good things happen not just bad. Maybe he could get what he wanted more than anything else…but would it work out?

Rodolphus couldn't help but lean forward to hear Sirius' reply. Tracing the path Sirius' tongue had taken only moments before. The desire to feel those lips on his once more made him want to act impulsively again.

"What will your father think?" Sirius asked, wariness and desperation coating his voice. He wanted so badly to agree, but his heart couldn't take accepting what Rodolphus was offering without true acceptance…he did not want to say yes only to have Corvus deny them. Rodolphus would never go against his father.

Rodolphus laughed, startling Sirius, it was the last sound he expected him to make at a moment like this, "You're joking right? He knows. My father is quite observant, hell, Harry knows, they've both been pushing me to ask for your hand so to speak."

Sirius flushed red, "I know," he muttered in utter mortification.

A sly smirk worked across Rodolphus' face, oh, there was a story to tell there. "So, will you accept my suit?"

"Yes," Sirius replied with all the solemnity the occasion called for. Even if it was a bit too quick and eager, he didn't care. Merlin, help him, Harry was going to be intolerable with his teasing and taunting for months.

"Shall we?" Rodolphus stood immediately, he wasn't going to wait for self-doubt to get the better of Sirius. The quicker they got the contract signed the better, they both walked out of the office, "So…what did Harry say to cause that rather fetching flush I saw earlier?" chuckling again as it was once more spread across his cheeks.

Before long they used the Floo network to return to Lestrange manor.

"Son, Sirius," Corvus said, "You're late," Rabastan was already gone and Corvus had a small dessert on his plate.

"I'd like you to draw up a betrothal contract for us," Rodolphus informed his father, Sirius stiffened as if waiting for the inevitable fall out he was so sure was coming.

"There is no need," Corvus said, sitting back smugly, seeing the looks on Sirius' and his sons faces he added quickly before it could be blown disastrously in his face. "Harry has already drawn one up."

"Of course, he has," Sirius whined in mortification.

"I'll go and retrieve it shall I?" Corvus said standing up, as he left the room, both wizards heard, "Do inform your brother he owes me ten galleons." Sounding very chipper indeed.

Sirius choked out a shocked incredulous laugh.

A/n – will they give Tonks money to carry the Lestrange heir? Having her moved from Azkaban to a secure until in St. Mungo's for the duration of the pregnancy? Or will they simply request it from an OFC? Or will neither have a biological child? Will the potion become a reality? With the Lestrange and Black-Potter backing them? Or will they not have children and just be happy to be uncles to Harry's children? Allowing his children to continue the Lestrange name? ahhh next up Dumbledore…gosh I'm going to have to re-read the entire stories to get all the Dumbledore scenes that will be required for Dumbledore's 'thoughts' in the next chapter :D since there won't be much in the way of talking unless it's Dumbledore talking to himself…So, what bits of Dumbledore's imprisonment do you want to see most? R&R