This is my first Harry Potter fanfic. Remus and Sirius are my favorite characters and I think it was only a matter of time that I would write a story about them. If my other fics are any indication this will be long.

I hope you enjoy.

A special Thank you to DruidGoddess for beta-reading the story

Guilty of Being Innocent – Prologue

Remus wasn't quite sure what awoke him. It certainly wasn't a nightmare. He usually didn't get those until closer to a full moon. For a moment he considered getting up and making himself some tea, but the thought of leaving his warm, cozy bed was not very tempting. Suddenly there was a noise, like something scratching at a piece of wood. It was very faint but thanks to his keen sense of hearing he was able to make it our even through the sound of the pouring rain.
Remus reached out and summoned his wand.

"Lumos!" he called out as soon as he felt the familiar object in his hand. Instantly his bedroom was illuminated by the spell.

The wizard listened, and when he heard the scratching noise again, jumped out of bed and reached for his robe.

The noise came from downstairs, not from inside the house but from the backdoor, Remus realized. As he walked down the wooden staircase he listened again, but the only thing he could hear now was the sounds of the rain and the wind.

He unlocked the backdoor, opening it carefully, his wand ready to be used at the first sign of danger. Remus gasped, eyes widening in shock, at the sight of a large, black dog lying just outside the door.

"Padfoot?!" he exclaimed.

The dog didn't move. The wizard bent down, reaching out to shake the animal and jerked his hand back quickly when he touched something wet, warm and sticky. That's when he smelled it too. Blood! He was surprised he didn't detect it earlier. But then again, the stench of dirty, wet fur was so strong that it covered up every other scent.

"PadfootSirius?" again the animal didn't even stir.

He has lost consciousness, Remus realized. Without thinking he stuffed his wand into the pocket of his robe and picked up the shaggy dog (it was frighteningly light for its size), wincing at the large bloodstain on the doorsteps.

Great god, if I would not have woken up he might have bled to death right at my door. – He still might if I don't do something quickly.

The wizard carried Padfoot into the house, and after a moment of consideration laid him down on the faded, worn out carpet by the fireplace. With a flick of his wand he lit the fire before he hurried into the kitchen to fill a large bowl with water. He grabbed a couple of towels, some gauze, bandages and a few vials in the bathroom then went back to tend to his injured friend.

Friend? No, I don't think I have the right to call him that anymore, after everything that has happenedeverything I let happen, Remus thought bitterly.

He kneeled down next to the large dog, soaked one of the towels in water and started to wash the blood out of the black fur to get a better look at the injury. Padfoot whimpered quietly. Remus found a large gash right below the animal's rips and performed a healing spell. He was not very good in these kinds of spells, but it was the best he could do. After all Sirius was still a wanted man and calling a healer or even Madam Pomfrey was out of the question. When he was finished the wound had stopped bleeding and started to heal. Remus gave a sigh of relief. He opened one of the vials he had brought along, put a generous amount of potion on to a strip of gauze, and dabbed it onto the gash before he dressed it with clean bandages.

The dog gave a low growl.

"Easy Padfoot," The wizard whispered, relieved that his friend was waking up. "It's me, Remus. I'm only trying to help."

The growl faded. Eyelids fluttered then Padfoot opened his eyes and tried to focus on him. Remus rose and stepped back. Moments later the large dog changed into its human form.
"Remus" Sirius started weakly. He tried to push himself up, but he had used up what little strength he had left during the transformation. Before he could say another word his eyes rolled back and he fainted again.

Remus, looking down at the man, sighed heavily. Sirius looked a little better then he did when they met in the Shrieking Shack about a year go, but he was still only a shadow of his former self. He was frighteningly thin and bony, his skin pale and waxy, his hair matted and shaggy. His tattered robes were in desperate need of cleaning and (Remus wrinkled his nose) in human form Sirius did not smell much better than he had as a dog.

I did this to him, Remus thought bitter, hanging his head in shame. I'm as much responsible as those who sent him to Azkaban. He was my friend and I should have believed in him, in his innocence. I should have been there for him when he had nobody else, but I wasn't. If he dies now I'll never be able to ask for his forgiveness. "Please" He lowered himself to his knees again and took hold of one of those bony, claw-like hands. "Please don't die, don't die on me now."