"Merry Christmas," Remus said lightly, leaning upon the dusty hearth of his
fireplace and taking a framed picture up into his hands. The old photo,
although the frame was beaten and cracked, was still full of life. The four
in the picture were all standing about a pond, laughing like no tomorrow.
It was one of the few remaining memories of the times before Azkaban,
before the death and sadness. James stood up on the bank with Peter beside
him; both were laughing and looking out towards the pond. In the pond sat
Sirius, looking amused, wet, bedraggled, and mischevious. It was obvious he
had something up his sleeve. Remus was levitating a few inches above, also
laughing, but not for long, because Sirius took that preceise moment to
reach up, yank at his ankle, and drag him down underwater with him with a
splash. Lily had taken the photo, and had given a copy to each of them.
This was the only one that remained.
Remus didn't really know what compelled him to keep this photo; perhaps it was the thought of things that had been, and the knowledge of the friendships he had forged with those who had seen past the condition that he could not help. Either way, seeing them in any form was of some comfort. He needed comfort, especially on this night, Christmas Eve. He had a feeling that Sirius might return too late, or not at all...and this did not sit very well with him.
He stared at the quiet fireplace for a while, thinking about how to spend this day. It was cloudy and overcast; Hogsmeade would be getting another few inches of snow tonight to replace the few inches it had lost. It was about then that he decided that it was too quiet at his home. He had another day of safety before the dread end of the lunar month; and he knew people in Hogsmeade; had friends there.
So he grabbed his thick winter robes and cloak, opened the door, and began to trudge through the deep snow, fighting the frigid wind as he travelled.
The town was full of life this morning, with families doing last minute shopping and children playing in the falling snow. The wind ceased to blow here due to a charm that had been cast by the most powerful wizarding family in the town.
Remus couldn't help but notice, however, how some mothers would run outside and take their children inside hurridly if they saw him walk past. It was well-known in the village that a werewolf lived about a mile from there, and almost the entire town shunned him because of it. He knew that he was ostracized for something that he couldn't help, and yes, it did sting a bit, but he knew it was just bred in their minds; he could do nothing about it. He watched as the children played in the snow, throwing snowballs playfully at each other, and felt envious. He hadn't been able to enjoy his childhood like this; he and his parents were too busy searching for a cure for lycanthropy in vain...there was no cure, and he knew it.
As he walked into the Three Broomsticks and pulled the hood of his cloak from his face, many in the bar withdrew discreetly in disgust; most seasoned wizards and witches knew the symptoms of lycanthropy. Unabashed, he folded his cloak into his hands and stepped up to the bar, where he was was met, surprisingly, with warmth.
"Remus J. Lupin, I haven't seen you in ages! Here's a Happy Christmas to you! Now, what will it be?" came a cheery woman's voice. He looked up to the bar, and smiled at Madame Rosmerta, a pretty witch whom he and his friends had known since their days at Hogwarts. It was true, their paths hadn't crossed in a long time, and she only realized that he was a werewolf when the rumor swept about Hogsmeade.
"A Happy Christmas to you too, Rosmerta," he said contentedly, still standing. "I think I'll just have a butterbeer; walking a mile in the snow gets very cold after a while." He accented this with a smile, and she agreed.
"A point you have there! Go find yourself a seat; I'll bring it out as soon as it's ready!"
Remus smiled and nodded, then turned, looking on with as much diginity as he could keep; as the witches, wizards, and even the hags and warlocks, parted a bit for him to walk past. He had to admit, it was quite derogatory for them to do such things, but he knew that getting angry would only worsen the rumors about him. So he walked past, thanking them as he past for letting him by. He could feel eyes upon him, but he disregarded it and let himself sink into his thoughts. He heard the door swing open a few times, but he never bothered to look up past the Christmas tree to see who it was. That is, until-
"Harry! Harry, look! Isn't that Professor Lupin?"
Lupin looked up quickly just in time to see Ron Weasley, looking much older than he did when Remus had seen him four years before, towing one Harry Potter behind him. Both looked surprised and covered in snow, and their comical appearance caused Remus to chuckle in amusement. So they were seventh years now...
After they came to a stop, Harry straightened his crooked glasses and smiled breathlessly. "Professor Lupin! What are you doing here? We thought you were-"
"You kids watch out!" A voice cut off Harry's query, and all three turned to see a tall, imposing wizard standing across the bar. He had dark brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard; a long forest green cloak fell down over his muscular arms. His nicely polished wand was now in his hand, and when he was compared with Lupin, the latter looked much more worse for the wear. "He's a werewolf! You can't go around trustin' them! Tear you apart, they will! You two would be a might safer if you came over here and sat with me!"
Remus remained silent; he was an even-tempered person. He would've let the whole thing fly over; it was better than causing a pointless fight. But...Harry Potter and Ron Weasley didn't think that way.
"What do you know about werewolves!? Who gives you the right to say those things? I bet anything that Gilderoy Lockheart knows more about werewolves than you!" Ron cried after whirling around. Remus stood up quickly and put a hand on both boys' shoulders, stepping forward before either of them got another word out.
"Please excuse my young friends here; they have quick tempers." Remus looked over his shoulder at the two seventeen year olds with a mischevious gleam in his own eyes. Both caught it though, and went quiet, wondering what he had in mind.
"So you decide to fight your own battles, beast? I'm not afraid of you; I'll kill you myself and rid this peaceful town of its bane!"
Remus finally looked mentally wounded; through all the years he had been among strangers, never had one resorted to calling him a beast. But, determined to keep his dignity, he drew himself up to his full height and pulled out his own wand. The whole bar had gone silent, watcing the brewing fight carefully. Most there had their bets on the strong looking wizard when compared to the lean Lupin and two seventh year Hogwarts students.
"I beleive that the honorable way to sove this would be a wizard's duel." Lupin said determindly, rolling up the ends of his robes' sleves carefully. "So let's settle this right here and now, quick and painless. Well...painless for me, perhaps." Then, Harry and Ron noted that mischevious smile that played on his young face; remincent of one that had been on his face when he had been dubbed Moony; one like that of he who had helped create the Marauder's Map.
The imposing wizard regarded Lupin with amusement, then laughed. He thought Lupin quite inferior and undereducated in the wizarding ways due to his lycanthropy. How wrong he was; Harry and Ron snickered at his side, knowing that Remus J. Lupin was no novice; he was a quite capable wizard.
"Alright then, monster, a wizard's duel it is!" he said, and took his place a few steps before Remus, looking arrogant and self-assured. He raised his wand as Remus did, and took a breath to cast his spell.
"Gelo Ingressus!" came the surprisingly loud voice of Remus as he waved his wand expertly. Almost in the blink of an eye, a silver line of light flew from the tip of his wand and encased the man, freezing him on the spot. Needless to say, the taller wizard was struck silent with shock as he felt his body go rigid. Remus grinned a bit and hid his wand back within the folds of his cloak. "Quite a handy Freezing Spell. Should wear off in about eight hours."
Everyone in the tavern was surprised by the sudden and painless end to the duel. No one had expeceted Lupin to win, but it was no matter, for it was back to being filled with noise once again, this time accompanied by the sound of money being exchanged.
"Wow! That was over fast!" Ron said, sliding down into a chair as Remus sat down, Harry following suit.
Remus smiled and sighed, shaking his head. "It was the only easy way to prevent an all out brawl; it silenced him...and the two of you. you shouldn't try and pick a fight with a wizard who's had more experience REGARDLESS if you have defeated Lord Voldemort before. That was very foolish, you know."
"Sorry about that. It's just that they shouldn't criticize you when they don't even know you," Harry said seriously, putting his hands on the table.
"I understand your anger, but what good will it do any of our reputations if you two got in a bar brawl on Christmas Eve with a much stronger wizard due to me, then come back beaten and bruised? But, thank you for the thought."
"Here's your drink, Remus! That was quite the show; although I will be quite glad to be rid of our new...statue. Not much of a Christmas decoration! And what will you two have?" Rosmerta said with a charming chuckle.
After Harry and Ron ordered and Rosmerta left, Remus looked at them over the rim of his flask and smiled a bit. "And what brings you two here to Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve? And what about Hermione?"
"Well, she went home for the hoildays, and Harry and I opted to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas." Ron said, casting a wayward glance over to the young man beside him. Remus raised an amused eyebrow at them; he had a few guesses as to why they might be staying behind, but he said nothing. Thier personal life was none of his affair. "And we just decided to come here for a few hours!"
Remus nodded and took another drink of his butterbeer, looking contemplative. "Have you heard from Sirius lately?" he asked, looking at them closely, mainly Harry.
"No, not since mid-November. Why?"
Remus shook his head and sat back, running a hand through his silvery brown hair after sitting his flask down. "I was just curious, that's all."
Harry and Ron accepted this, and the trio sat there for several hours, talking and passing several bits of informatin back and forth, often accompained by the strings of laughter and the like. Every customer who walked into the bar got a curious eyeful at the strange statue, and it was quite amusing to watch the varying reactions. But, like all good things, it had to come to an end. After a few hours, Harry looked at his watch, a Muggle watch, and sighed, standing.
"We should be getting back to Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall will have our hides if we're not back by dusk," Harry said, looking at Ron. The redhead nodded and stood, putting a few Sickles down for payment of his butterbeer, then both turned back to face their former professor.
"See you later, Professor," Ron said, smiling crookedly. Remus waved his hand at him and Harry gently.
"I'm not your professor anymore; Remus will suit me just fine. Now go along, I don't want you to risk getting House points taken away on my account!"
Remus watched as they went and shook his head. Just like James and his friends had been so many years ago...
After paying for his drink, Remus stood and wrapped his thick wool cloak around his shoulders and stepped out int othe darkening sky. It would be pitch black by the time he returned to his home, but it suited his just the same. Nothing except a cold bed was awaiting him at home. He sighed and glanced up at the nearly full moon, his mind wandering, then began to trudge half-heartedly through the thick snow, some of it melting through his boots and stinging his feet with its icyness. Soon, the trees aurrounded him, casting gentle shadows upon the white blanketed forest. It had ceased snowing, but the short snowstorm had done its magnificent work, replacing slightly melted snow with a vibrant new powder.
One by one, the twinkling stars joined the silvery moon in the ebony sky, giving him more light to walk by. The snow glittered magnificently, and he truely wished that he could enjoy this beautiful night as much as he could. But so heavy was his mental burden that he could not.
Behind him, he heard the slight sounds of slow footsteps; and he became wary of his surroundings. It might be some friends of the wizard he had dueled with following him in an attempt to get revenge or even kill him. Remus discreetly pulled his wand from the folds of his robe and continued walking, looking around his surroundings. The footsteps continued; they were getting closer, but Remus did not turn around; his instincts told him to wait until the last possible moment. Let whoever or whatever it is that is following him think that it has the element of surprise.
Remus stepped carefully up onto his doorstep and glanced at the cracked, darkened window, and saw a figure, his face shaded by the moonlight, reaching out for him. Suddenly, Remus turned on his heel and pointed his wand directly into his follower's face, his mouth open and ready to cast a spell.
"Well, a fine way to wish me a Happy Christmas, Moony," said the surprised voice of Sirius Black, who had taken a step back and was now standing in the snow, regarding the wand that was pointed dangerously at his face. He held a small grey coloered cloth sack that was closed by a drawstring in his hand, then put his free hand up, moving the wand away from his face. "Be careful, you're going to put someone's eye out, most likely mine."
Sirius smiled at Remus' expression; the anger now melting away into astonishment. The dim light cast into his surprised icy blue eyes and glinted off of the silver strands of hair that wasn't covered by his cloak. As Sirius moved the ready wand from its target, he took Remus' hand in his own, closing his eyes briefly at the inviting warmth.
"Where...how...what did you-" Remus paused and began to chuckle at his apparent and sudden speech impediment and let out a long held breath, a genuine smile breaking upon his face. "We can talk after we get inside; we'll freeze if we stay out here any longer."
Remus opened the door haphazardly and threw it open, removing his hand from Sirius' grip so he could conjure a fire with his wand. As soon as Sirius was inside, Remus shut the door and pulled the tattered curtains together. But Sirius couldn't help but notice the way Remus' motions were dragged and tired.
"I might have been followed from Hogsmeade; I defeated a wizard in a duel today at the bar and if some of his friends were to track me down and find you here, then the both of us might be headed for Azkaban."
Sirius watched as Remus went about the small house closing curtains and took a seat, clutching the bag gently in his hand. When Remus finally was done taking precautions, he stepped in, and Sirius could see the weariness in his eyes; weariness from the upcoming advent of his lycanthropic transformations. His face looked tired and drawn, and it was almost sudden when he staggared and leaned roughly against the doorframe. The nights before the first full moon were always taxing on him, but Sirius had never seen him look so defeated. It must have been the walk to and from the village that hurt him more than anything else, and Sirius was on his feet and at his side in an instant.
"Shouldn't have walked...I should've gotten a room at the Three Broomsticks..."
"You know you couldn't have done that; that would start an uproar, and what would've happened had you stayed and been attacked in this state?" Sirius scolded gently, letting Remus lean on his shoulder as he walked him over to the couch that sat before the fire. Lupin's breathing was a bit labored, and as Sirius laid him out upon the couch and sat next to him, the worn look on Remus' face told Sirius enough. Quickly, he reached for the small bag that he had brought and opened it, removing the small bottle that was inside of it. The liquid inside was an opaque silvery color, thin and chilled.
"Remus," Sirius said, pulling the exhausted man up into a sitting position gently, "I was saving this for tomorrow morning, but I think it's the appropriate time for this."
"What is it? It's not Wolfsbane..."
"No, but it will help, possibly more than the Wolfsbane Potion. This is what I went looking for..."
Remus looked up into Sirius' grey eyes with a firm gaze. "What is it?"
Sirius paused for a moment, meeting his gaze with one of equal firmity and smiled hopefully.
"A cure for lycanthropy."
Silence reigned for a few long moments as Remus digested this information. It was almost too much to beleive; there was no cure; how could Sirius have found one in such a short time?
"But...how? Where?"
"An old Scottish warlock in the moors not too far from the sea had a cure...I heard about it from one of the new prisoners in Azkaban before the dementors broke him...he was a werewolf as well, but from what I saw, he had none of the symptoms. And trust me, after knowing you for twenty years, I know what the symptoms are. So...I remembered what he told me, and when I escaped from that place; after Dumbledore told me to find you at the end of Harry's fourth year, I had two goals. Find you...and find that cure. Happy Christmas..."
"I don't beleive it...after all these years; after all the pain my family had to edure to find a cure when we thought our search in vain...here it is..." Remus looked at the potion with an expression of gentle awe and more than a little regret. "A shame that my family can't witness this moment..." He took the bottle from Sirius' hand slowly, the coldness of the potion within stinging his hands lightly, but this was no matter. He knew that this might be his key to freedom from his life-long battle...and he had Sirius to thank for it. He looked up at him with grateful eyes and a disbelieving smile, taking a breath. "Thank you..."
"Think nothing of it, Moony...you deserve a bit of rest and peace..." Sirius smiled as he watched Remus uncork the bottle; the stench of the potion was vile, but it was faint enough to stand. He sustained a chuckle as Remus made a disgruntled face, but went silent with hope as he put the bottle to his lips and tilted it back, swallowing it little by little, although it must've tasted terrible. After Remus had finished the potion and sat the bottle upon a rickety end table, he suddenly put a hand to his forehead and groaned softly.
"That tasted terrible...gave me a splitting headache too..." he muttered, sitting up and leaning against the back of the couch. But he could feel the potion working inside of his veins; he could feel the relentless tug of the disease that he was so accustomed to fading, giving way to a strength that he had never felt in his muscles before...it was as though he was being reborn. He could feel the exhaustion leave him along with the chill that accompanied the nights before the full moon.
Sirius said nothing; he was captured by the transformation taking place. Slowly, the signs of the lycanthropy were fading; his tired, grey features were fading, and it looked as though he was regaining a bit of his lost youthfulness. The silver hair that dotted his tawny brown hair was slowly giving way to a solid brown, and even his eyes looked brighter.
"Sirius..." Remus said, looking up with a furrowed brow, regarding the expression on his face with confusion. "Did it work? I mean...it feels as though it worked..." He stretched out his arms to look at them and cocked his head to the side lightly, looking at the condition his body was in from his current vantage point. It was as though he had never been bitten had it not been from the scars here and there.
"We can only wait and see if it really worked and this isn't just to cover up the symptoms...but if this indeed did not work, don't fear. I'm going to be there with you through the whole ordeal...from now on if I can help it." Sirius accented this with a smile and put a warm hand against Remus' face, drawing him closer. Strands of fully brown hair ran through his fingers, no longer acompanied by the silver, and his face was alight with a renewed sense of strength. "But as far as I can see right now...you look...perfect, just as you always have to me. I'm just thankful that..." Sirius paused, tears forming in his gleaming grey eyes. "That you no longer have to bear such a painful burden..."
He then stood, pulling Remus up with him, and embraced him deeply, never breaking his gaze from those blue eyes that seemed light with renewed vigor. It was as though he were walking in a dream; for the first time in what seemed like forever, he finally felt the burden of the past and his years in Azkaban lift from his shoulders; he felt young and innocent again, a shade of former days.
"We've come such a long way..." Remus said softly, giving Sirius a long, calming gaze. He said no more, however, words failed him, and he was content to stand there in his lover's grasp, relishing in his touch; which was like a memory, long forgotten and revived. Never had he felt such love as this; so many had failed to see past his condition and know him for who he really was...and then here was someone whom he had decieved for fear of losing his friendship, showing him such a love that he thought never possible..."I just can't understand...how you can love me the way you do...even after all that we've been through, all those years...and what I am...or was..."
Sirius chuckled. "It's easy, Remus...the easiest thing I've ever done was love you...the hardest thing was stepping from our doorstep the night Lily and James died...I knew I might not return..." Sirius said nothing more and gently leaned forward, capturing Remus' lips in a needy caress. It was almost surprising, how much want was in that kiss; that embrace...like a soldier returning to his wife from the battlefield was the relief and love.
Not even the years of toil and torment had faded the colors of their love.
~*Part Six Coming Soon!*~
Remus didn't really know what compelled him to keep this photo; perhaps it was the thought of things that had been, and the knowledge of the friendships he had forged with those who had seen past the condition that he could not help. Either way, seeing them in any form was of some comfort. He needed comfort, especially on this night, Christmas Eve. He had a feeling that Sirius might return too late, or not at all...and this did not sit very well with him.
He stared at the quiet fireplace for a while, thinking about how to spend this day. It was cloudy and overcast; Hogsmeade would be getting another few inches of snow tonight to replace the few inches it had lost. It was about then that he decided that it was too quiet at his home. He had another day of safety before the dread end of the lunar month; and he knew people in Hogsmeade; had friends there.
So he grabbed his thick winter robes and cloak, opened the door, and began to trudge through the deep snow, fighting the frigid wind as he travelled.
The town was full of life this morning, with families doing last minute shopping and children playing in the falling snow. The wind ceased to blow here due to a charm that had been cast by the most powerful wizarding family in the town.
Remus couldn't help but notice, however, how some mothers would run outside and take their children inside hurridly if they saw him walk past. It was well-known in the village that a werewolf lived about a mile from there, and almost the entire town shunned him because of it. He knew that he was ostracized for something that he couldn't help, and yes, it did sting a bit, but he knew it was just bred in their minds; he could do nothing about it. He watched as the children played in the snow, throwing snowballs playfully at each other, and felt envious. He hadn't been able to enjoy his childhood like this; he and his parents were too busy searching for a cure for lycanthropy in vain...there was no cure, and he knew it.
As he walked into the Three Broomsticks and pulled the hood of his cloak from his face, many in the bar withdrew discreetly in disgust; most seasoned wizards and witches knew the symptoms of lycanthropy. Unabashed, he folded his cloak into his hands and stepped up to the bar, where he was was met, surprisingly, with warmth.
"Remus J. Lupin, I haven't seen you in ages! Here's a Happy Christmas to you! Now, what will it be?" came a cheery woman's voice. He looked up to the bar, and smiled at Madame Rosmerta, a pretty witch whom he and his friends had known since their days at Hogwarts. It was true, their paths hadn't crossed in a long time, and she only realized that he was a werewolf when the rumor swept about Hogsmeade.
"A Happy Christmas to you too, Rosmerta," he said contentedly, still standing. "I think I'll just have a butterbeer; walking a mile in the snow gets very cold after a while." He accented this with a smile, and she agreed.
"A point you have there! Go find yourself a seat; I'll bring it out as soon as it's ready!"
Remus smiled and nodded, then turned, looking on with as much diginity as he could keep; as the witches, wizards, and even the hags and warlocks, parted a bit for him to walk past. He had to admit, it was quite derogatory for them to do such things, but he knew that getting angry would only worsen the rumors about him. So he walked past, thanking them as he past for letting him by. He could feel eyes upon him, but he disregarded it and let himself sink into his thoughts. He heard the door swing open a few times, but he never bothered to look up past the Christmas tree to see who it was. That is, until-
"Harry! Harry, look! Isn't that Professor Lupin?"
Lupin looked up quickly just in time to see Ron Weasley, looking much older than he did when Remus had seen him four years before, towing one Harry Potter behind him. Both looked surprised and covered in snow, and their comical appearance caused Remus to chuckle in amusement. So they were seventh years now...
After they came to a stop, Harry straightened his crooked glasses and smiled breathlessly. "Professor Lupin! What are you doing here? We thought you were-"
"You kids watch out!" A voice cut off Harry's query, and all three turned to see a tall, imposing wizard standing across the bar. He had dark brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard; a long forest green cloak fell down over his muscular arms. His nicely polished wand was now in his hand, and when he was compared with Lupin, the latter looked much more worse for the wear. "He's a werewolf! You can't go around trustin' them! Tear you apart, they will! You two would be a might safer if you came over here and sat with me!"
Remus remained silent; he was an even-tempered person. He would've let the whole thing fly over; it was better than causing a pointless fight. But...Harry Potter and Ron Weasley didn't think that way.
"What do you know about werewolves!? Who gives you the right to say those things? I bet anything that Gilderoy Lockheart knows more about werewolves than you!" Ron cried after whirling around. Remus stood up quickly and put a hand on both boys' shoulders, stepping forward before either of them got another word out.
"Please excuse my young friends here; they have quick tempers." Remus looked over his shoulder at the two seventeen year olds with a mischevious gleam in his own eyes. Both caught it though, and went quiet, wondering what he had in mind.
"So you decide to fight your own battles, beast? I'm not afraid of you; I'll kill you myself and rid this peaceful town of its bane!"
Remus finally looked mentally wounded; through all the years he had been among strangers, never had one resorted to calling him a beast. But, determined to keep his dignity, he drew himself up to his full height and pulled out his own wand. The whole bar had gone silent, watcing the brewing fight carefully. Most there had their bets on the strong looking wizard when compared to the lean Lupin and two seventh year Hogwarts students.
"I beleive that the honorable way to sove this would be a wizard's duel." Lupin said determindly, rolling up the ends of his robes' sleves carefully. "So let's settle this right here and now, quick and painless. Well...painless for me, perhaps." Then, Harry and Ron noted that mischevious smile that played on his young face; remincent of one that had been on his face when he had been dubbed Moony; one like that of he who had helped create the Marauder's Map.
The imposing wizard regarded Lupin with amusement, then laughed. He thought Lupin quite inferior and undereducated in the wizarding ways due to his lycanthropy. How wrong he was; Harry and Ron snickered at his side, knowing that Remus J. Lupin was no novice; he was a quite capable wizard.
"Alright then, monster, a wizard's duel it is!" he said, and took his place a few steps before Remus, looking arrogant and self-assured. He raised his wand as Remus did, and took a breath to cast his spell.
"Gelo Ingressus!" came the surprisingly loud voice of Remus as he waved his wand expertly. Almost in the blink of an eye, a silver line of light flew from the tip of his wand and encased the man, freezing him on the spot. Needless to say, the taller wizard was struck silent with shock as he felt his body go rigid. Remus grinned a bit and hid his wand back within the folds of his cloak. "Quite a handy Freezing Spell. Should wear off in about eight hours."
Everyone in the tavern was surprised by the sudden and painless end to the duel. No one had expeceted Lupin to win, but it was no matter, for it was back to being filled with noise once again, this time accompanied by the sound of money being exchanged.
"Wow! That was over fast!" Ron said, sliding down into a chair as Remus sat down, Harry following suit.
Remus smiled and sighed, shaking his head. "It was the only easy way to prevent an all out brawl; it silenced him...and the two of you. you shouldn't try and pick a fight with a wizard who's had more experience REGARDLESS if you have defeated Lord Voldemort before. That was very foolish, you know."
"Sorry about that. It's just that they shouldn't criticize you when they don't even know you," Harry said seriously, putting his hands on the table.
"I understand your anger, but what good will it do any of our reputations if you two got in a bar brawl on Christmas Eve with a much stronger wizard due to me, then come back beaten and bruised? But, thank you for the thought."
"Here's your drink, Remus! That was quite the show; although I will be quite glad to be rid of our new...statue. Not much of a Christmas decoration! And what will you two have?" Rosmerta said with a charming chuckle.
After Harry and Ron ordered and Rosmerta left, Remus looked at them over the rim of his flask and smiled a bit. "And what brings you two here to Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve? And what about Hermione?"
"Well, she went home for the hoildays, and Harry and I opted to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas." Ron said, casting a wayward glance over to the young man beside him. Remus raised an amused eyebrow at them; he had a few guesses as to why they might be staying behind, but he said nothing. Thier personal life was none of his affair. "And we just decided to come here for a few hours!"
Remus nodded and took another drink of his butterbeer, looking contemplative. "Have you heard from Sirius lately?" he asked, looking at them closely, mainly Harry.
"No, not since mid-November. Why?"
Remus shook his head and sat back, running a hand through his silvery brown hair after sitting his flask down. "I was just curious, that's all."
Harry and Ron accepted this, and the trio sat there for several hours, talking and passing several bits of informatin back and forth, often accompained by the strings of laughter and the like. Every customer who walked into the bar got a curious eyeful at the strange statue, and it was quite amusing to watch the varying reactions. But, like all good things, it had to come to an end. After a few hours, Harry looked at his watch, a Muggle watch, and sighed, standing.
"We should be getting back to Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall will have our hides if we're not back by dusk," Harry said, looking at Ron. The redhead nodded and stood, putting a few Sickles down for payment of his butterbeer, then both turned back to face their former professor.
"See you later, Professor," Ron said, smiling crookedly. Remus waved his hand at him and Harry gently.
"I'm not your professor anymore; Remus will suit me just fine. Now go along, I don't want you to risk getting House points taken away on my account!"
Remus watched as they went and shook his head. Just like James and his friends had been so many years ago...
After paying for his drink, Remus stood and wrapped his thick wool cloak around his shoulders and stepped out int othe darkening sky. It would be pitch black by the time he returned to his home, but it suited his just the same. Nothing except a cold bed was awaiting him at home. He sighed and glanced up at the nearly full moon, his mind wandering, then began to trudge half-heartedly through the thick snow, some of it melting through his boots and stinging his feet with its icyness. Soon, the trees aurrounded him, casting gentle shadows upon the white blanketed forest. It had ceased snowing, but the short snowstorm had done its magnificent work, replacing slightly melted snow with a vibrant new powder.
One by one, the twinkling stars joined the silvery moon in the ebony sky, giving him more light to walk by. The snow glittered magnificently, and he truely wished that he could enjoy this beautiful night as much as he could. But so heavy was his mental burden that he could not.
Behind him, he heard the slight sounds of slow footsteps; and he became wary of his surroundings. It might be some friends of the wizard he had dueled with following him in an attempt to get revenge or even kill him. Remus discreetly pulled his wand from the folds of his robe and continued walking, looking around his surroundings. The footsteps continued; they were getting closer, but Remus did not turn around; his instincts told him to wait until the last possible moment. Let whoever or whatever it is that is following him think that it has the element of surprise.
Remus stepped carefully up onto his doorstep and glanced at the cracked, darkened window, and saw a figure, his face shaded by the moonlight, reaching out for him. Suddenly, Remus turned on his heel and pointed his wand directly into his follower's face, his mouth open and ready to cast a spell.
"Well, a fine way to wish me a Happy Christmas, Moony," said the surprised voice of Sirius Black, who had taken a step back and was now standing in the snow, regarding the wand that was pointed dangerously at his face. He held a small grey coloered cloth sack that was closed by a drawstring in his hand, then put his free hand up, moving the wand away from his face. "Be careful, you're going to put someone's eye out, most likely mine."
Sirius smiled at Remus' expression; the anger now melting away into astonishment. The dim light cast into his surprised icy blue eyes and glinted off of the silver strands of hair that wasn't covered by his cloak. As Sirius moved the ready wand from its target, he took Remus' hand in his own, closing his eyes briefly at the inviting warmth.
"Where...how...what did you-" Remus paused and began to chuckle at his apparent and sudden speech impediment and let out a long held breath, a genuine smile breaking upon his face. "We can talk after we get inside; we'll freeze if we stay out here any longer."
Remus opened the door haphazardly and threw it open, removing his hand from Sirius' grip so he could conjure a fire with his wand. As soon as Sirius was inside, Remus shut the door and pulled the tattered curtains together. But Sirius couldn't help but notice the way Remus' motions were dragged and tired.
"I might have been followed from Hogsmeade; I defeated a wizard in a duel today at the bar and if some of his friends were to track me down and find you here, then the both of us might be headed for Azkaban."
Sirius watched as Remus went about the small house closing curtains and took a seat, clutching the bag gently in his hand. When Remus finally was done taking precautions, he stepped in, and Sirius could see the weariness in his eyes; weariness from the upcoming advent of his lycanthropic transformations. His face looked tired and drawn, and it was almost sudden when he staggared and leaned roughly against the doorframe. The nights before the first full moon were always taxing on him, but Sirius had never seen him look so defeated. It must have been the walk to and from the village that hurt him more than anything else, and Sirius was on his feet and at his side in an instant.
"Shouldn't have walked...I should've gotten a room at the Three Broomsticks..."
"You know you couldn't have done that; that would start an uproar, and what would've happened had you stayed and been attacked in this state?" Sirius scolded gently, letting Remus lean on his shoulder as he walked him over to the couch that sat before the fire. Lupin's breathing was a bit labored, and as Sirius laid him out upon the couch and sat next to him, the worn look on Remus' face told Sirius enough. Quickly, he reached for the small bag that he had brought and opened it, removing the small bottle that was inside of it. The liquid inside was an opaque silvery color, thin and chilled.
"Remus," Sirius said, pulling the exhausted man up into a sitting position gently, "I was saving this for tomorrow morning, but I think it's the appropriate time for this."
"What is it? It's not Wolfsbane..."
"No, but it will help, possibly more than the Wolfsbane Potion. This is what I went looking for..."
Remus looked up into Sirius' grey eyes with a firm gaze. "What is it?"
Sirius paused for a moment, meeting his gaze with one of equal firmity and smiled hopefully.
"A cure for lycanthropy."
Silence reigned for a few long moments as Remus digested this information. It was almost too much to beleive; there was no cure; how could Sirius have found one in such a short time?
"But...how? Where?"
"An old Scottish warlock in the moors not too far from the sea had a cure...I heard about it from one of the new prisoners in Azkaban before the dementors broke him...he was a werewolf as well, but from what I saw, he had none of the symptoms. And trust me, after knowing you for twenty years, I know what the symptoms are. So...I remembered what he told me, and when I escaped from that place; after Dumbledore told me to find you at the end of Harry's fourth year, I had two goals. Find you...and find that cure. Happy Christmas..."
"I don't beleive it...after all these years; after all the pain my family had to edure to find a cure when we thought our search in vain...here it is..." Remus looked at the potion with an expression of gentle awe and more than a little regret. "A shame that my family can't witness this moment..." He took the bottle from Sirius' hand slowly, the coldness of the potion within stinging his hands lightly, but this was no matter. He knew that this might be his key to freedom from his life-long battle...and he had Sirius to thank for it. He looked up at him with grateful eyes and a disbelieving smile, taking a breath. "Thank you..."
"Think nothing of it, Moony...you deserve a bit of rest and peace..." Sirius smiled as he watched Remus uncork the bottle; the stench of the potion was vile, but it was faint enough to stand. He sustained a chuckle as Remus made a disgruntled face, but went silent with hope as he put the bottle to his lips and tilted it back, swallowing it little by little, although it must've tasted terrible. After Remus had finished the potion and sat the bottle upon a rickety end table, he suddenly put a hand to his forehead and groaned softly.
"That tasted terrible...gave me a splitting headache too..." he muttered, sitting up and leaning against the back of the couch. But he could feel the potion working inside of his veins; he could feel the relentless tug of the disease that he was so accustomed to fading, giving way to a strength that he had never felt in his muscles before...it was as though he was being reborn. He could feel the exhaustion leave him along with the chill that accompanied the nights before the full moon.
Sirius said nothing; he was captured by the transformation taking place. Slowly, the signs of the lycanthropy were fading; his tired, grey features were fading, and it looked as though he was regaining a bit of his lost youthfulness. The silver hair that dotted his tawny brown hair was slowly giving way to a solid brown, and even his eyes looked brighter.
"Sirius..." Remus said, looking up with a furrowed brow, regarding the expression on his face with confusion. "Did it work? I mean...it feels as though it worked..." He stretched out his arms to look at them and cocked his head to the side lightly, looking at the condition his body was in from his current vantage point. It was as though he had never been bitten had it not been from the scars here and there.
"We can only wait and see if it really worked and this isn't just to cover up the symptoms...but if this indeed did not work, don't fear. I'm going to be there with you through the whole ordeal...from now on if I can help it." Sirius accented this with a smile and put a warm hand against Remus' face, drawing him closer. Strands of fully brown hair ran through his fingers, no longer acompanied by the silver, and his face was alight with a renewed sense of strength. "But as far as I can see right now...you look...perfect, just as you always have to me. I'm just thankful that..." Sirius paused, tears forming in his gleaming grey eyes. "That you no longer have to bear such a painful burden..."
He then stood, pulling Remus up with him, and embraced him deeply, never breaking his gaze from those blue eyes that seemed light with renewed vigor. It was as though he were walking in a dream; for the first time in what seemed like forever, he finally felt the burden of the past and his years in Azkaban lift from his shoulders; he felt young and innocent again, a shade of former days.
"We've come such a long way..." Remus said softly, giving Sirius a long, calming gaze. He said no more, however, words failed him, and he was content to stand there in his lover's grasp, relishing in his touch; which was like a memory, long forgotten and revived. Never had he felt such love as this; so many had failed to see past his condition and know him for who he really was...and then here was someone whom he had decieved for fear of losing his friendship, showing him such a love that he thought never possible..."I just can't understand...how you can love me the way you do...even after all that we've been through, all those years...and what I am...or was..."
Sirius chuckled. "It's easy, Remus...the easiest thing I've ever done was love you...the hardest thing was stepping from our doorstep the night Lily and James died...I knew I might not return..." Sirius said nothing more and gently leaned forward, capturing Remus' lips in a needy caress. It was almost surprising, how much want was in that kiss; that embrace...like a soldier returning to his wife from the battlefield was the relief and love.
Not even the years of toil and torment had faded the colors of their love.
~*Part Six Coming Soon!*~