Murphy's Law
Chapter Four ~*~ Searching for a Star
The large black dog sniffed and wagged his tail in eager enthusiasm.
He was an enormous, bear-like creature, with shaggy fur the color of soot and large, light blue eyes of a certain smoky luminescence that resembled the petals of a cornflower. He was ill-fed and the bones hung out visibly beneath his thin flesh. His paws were giant, badly scarred, and worn. A feathery tail curled up over his back in his temporary state of joy.
Hogwarts rolled into sight as he followed the scent trail up over the next rolling snowy hill. The sky was a perfect cerulean shade, and the blankets of snow twinkled merrily in response. The castle itself gleamed like a burnished trophy, windows shining and warmth practically emanating from it.
The dog sniffed again and broke into a brisk trot, tail thumping and tongue lolling out of his mouth like some stretch of pink ribbon. His breath steamed out in front of him in a cheerful fog. After all, there was hope for him here. Dumbledore was here. Along with-
The dog gave an almost-joyful sigh into the crisp air and continued on his way.
--Harry.
~*~
"See, Harry?" Remus bent over the table and pointed at the feather with his wand. Clear emerald eyes followed his every movement. Lupin then levitated the feather high up into the air so that it sank slowly downwards. A small smile crept onto the child's face.
Remus felt himself smile back. "It's a Levitation Charm. You'll learn it here, someday." The feather drifted back, landing softly onto the table.
The door to their quarters burst open. Snape stalked inside, his dark eyes snapping with rage that was so tangible that there seemed to be a small isolated stormcloud over his head, darkening his face. The Potions Master then proceeded to make himself a cup of tea and, clutching it tightly in a white-knuckled grip, sat down in a very angry way on their poor, abused couch.
Remus turned to him, raising a brow. "Bad day?" he questioned mildly. He received a scowl for his troubles, followed by a balled-up piece of parchment that flew over to hit him in the nose, then falling to the ground.
Lupin uttered a small "ow" and retrieved it, uncrumpling and scanning it over. It was an article from Witch Weekly, written by-
"Oh no," he muttered. "Not /that/ woman again-"
"That Rita Skeeter cow!" Snape snarled, hands clenching into claws, as if he were to rip out the obnoxious reporter's throat as they spoke. "I don't know /how/ that infernal woman does it, but I mean to /find out/!" he positively howled.
Remus glanced back at the article. The headline screamed, BOY-WHO-LIVED'S GUARDIANS WORRIED ABOUT THREAT OF SIRIUS BLACK. It then launched into an accusing tirade about the irresponsibility of both Remus and Severus ("how could Dumbledore trust a werewolf?").
"Hang on," Lupin said suddenly, tapping at the paper. "How did she know what Mrs. Weasley said, about taking Harry to Hogwarts?"
"Hex me if I know," Snape muttered back, rubbing his forehead wearily. "That damned woman needs-"
"Severus!" Remus snapped, as if on reflex. "/Harry/!"
"Oh, yes," Snape muttered absent-mindedly, acting quite unlike himself. He then proceeded to mumble a few incoherent sentences, pacing back and forth in their chambers, a troubled look in his dark eyes.
"Aren't you going to say hi to Harry, Severus?" Lupin asked lightly, breaking the odd mood that Snape had flung upon himself like a heavy, suffocating cloak. The potions master turned, blinked, and tried to say hello to his young charge. He didn't even make it that far, promptly falling over before the "h" had even formed on his lips.
~*~
"A simple case of exhaustion," Madame Pomfrey was saying. "The stress did him in."
Severus was lying on his bed, tucked in with a particularly foul expression on his face, one that suggested to the witch, /come any closer and I'll happily oblige by ripping your head off!/
Madame must have caught this, because she tutted under her tongue, shaking her head, but stepped promptly out of reach. "Don't even /think/ about getting up until at least two days have passed. I would recommend four, but knowing you…" She tutted again. "I can cure sprains, Professor Snape, but exhaustion of both physical and magical resources is not easily dealt with, nor strength easily restored. What were you /doing/ to wear yourself out like this?"
"Severus is a workaholic," Remus replied lightly.
"I am /not/," the other man retorted irritably. "For your information-"
"Enough. Just make sure he gets lots of uninterrupted rest and eats well." Pomfrey gave a roll of her eyes to the duo and a warm smile to Harry before returning to her own wing.
As she slammed the highly ornate door shut, Remus turned back to his grumpy companion. "She's right, Severus, what /were/ you doing?"
"What do you think?" Snape practically screamed, his eyes bulging. "That stupid reporter woman! I want her /dead/, Remus, and I will /see/ to it that her career is-" suddenly, he sucked in a very large breath, gave a small shrudder, and passed out cold on the bed.
"You see what I mean?" The werewolf said softly, tousling Harry's hair. "He's so wrapped up in everything else that even /ranting/ takes more energy out of him than it takes for ol' Moony to run a mile."
~*~
Dumbledore was on his way downstairs for one of his famous midnight snacks. The castle had been bitterly cold that night, with chilling drafts somehow managing to seep into the enchanted walls. He made a note himself to get that checked in the morning, but for tonight he didn't mind; it gave him a plausible reason for another nightly stroll.
Even though Dumbledore knew the castle like the back of his hand, he still found it difficult to navigate in the lack of light. The torches sprang into life as he passed them, casting odd shadows, but they did little to distinguish one trick stair from another.
There was a black flicker before him; Dumbledore stopped and frowned. It wasn't a scrap of shadow. There was something odd about the way that shade moved. It seemed almost… /alive/… He waited for a few moments, but it didn't return, so he resumed his way to the house-elves and a promising cup of hot chocolate.
There it was again, gliding across him, slower this time, so it was a blurred form moving against a corner. Dumbledore drew his wand and muttered, "/lumos/," bringing the odd shadow into full view.
It was a large black dog, lips raised in self-protective defiance and a savage light of aggression in its pale blue eyes. Its fur was tangled and matted, the tail rigid and paws spaced out in a flight-or-fight position. Dumbledore's frown deepened; there was something odd about this dog. He could dispatch it easily, but the animal seemed almost human…
The blue eyes rolled up at him, pale and defiant. He'd seen that look before, out of hundreds of visits to his office on accounts of blowing up Slytherins in their beds and pulling pranks on poor old Severus Snape and his lackeys…
"Sirius," the old wizard said nonchalantly, as if it was normal to meet another of his kind as a giant ebony dog that resembled the odd emaciated haystack. "What /are/ you doing here?"
The dog gave one more soft growl, then changed back to human form with a soft "pop." His hair was as matted as the dog's fur, his appearance as starved as the animal had been, and his eyes still as defiant. "Dumbledore," he whispered, his voice barely above a hoarse murmur. He opened his mouth to explain further, but Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing him.
"I'm sure there's a great deal you wish to tell me, Sirius," the old wizard said kindly. "However, my judgment tells me that you are in severe need of a bath and some decent food… maybe some real robes, too. You can relate your story later. Change back to your… Animagus form-" Dumbledore raised a brow here-"and follow me to the kitchens."
Sirius looked shocked for a moment, then a long, slow smile began to spread across his face. It made him look at least ten years younger and no longer as haggard. With another quiet "pop," he changed back into the shaggy canine and followed Dumbledore towards the warm aromas of the kitchens.
~*~
Remus was an early riser. As a child, he used to often sleep in, but after becoming a werewolf, he found it harder and harder to have a good night's rest. Especially after the full moon, he found himself unable to sleep at all, and he could never stay asleep after the sun came out. As a result, Lupin arose every morning between six and six-thirty, regular as clockwork. It had gotten to the point when you could keep track of time according to the hours he kept.
It was a weekend, and some students were already up and about, excited for their trip to Hogsmeade. A few were even at breakfast already, chatting with their group of friends. The holiday season was fast approaching and everyone was beginning to take in the excitement. The Great Hall was already decked out with decorations while the majority of the students were still there to enjoy them; streams of holly and ivy lined the snowing ceiling and candles were present absolutely everywhere. The table was decorated with sprigs of fresh plants and twelve trees, each proudly displaying their own unique set of ornaments, lined the entire affair.
Remus, however, was surprised by being greeted by Dumbledore and asked to proceed directly to the Headmaster's office.
The Headmaster was about as decorated as the castle. Obviously, the old wizard enjoyed the Christmas season and was seen wearing a different but appropriate set of robes every day for the week before the students left for break. Today, they were emerald-green, a touch deeper and somehow fuller than the color that adorned the Slytherin flags, with scarlet and gold trimmings. His spectacles glinted merrily off from the candle-cast light, but his expression was a rather grim one.
"Remus, there's something you need to see, up in my office." His voice was quiet, as if there was something that he didn't want overheard underlying his statements.
"All right, Professor, if you wish," Remus replied slowly, his curiosity piqued. And in that way they walked down the corridors and to Dumbledore's office.
Remus had been in this oddly-decorated, practically circular room more than a few times in his Hogwarts career, and he never failed to discover something new and exciting in it. This time, however, the surprise was not in the form of an odd gadget or a strange new panting. This time, it was alive.
This time, it was a giant soot-black dog.
The werewolf blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, then launched forward, his teeth bared into a snarl. "/Sirius Black/!" The hair shot up on the creature's back like a current of electricity had just zapped through it.
Before Remus could go on strangling the large animal, Dumbledore stepped between them. The ancient wizard's eyes held nothing but the most impatient seriousness, coupled with an almost urgent expression.
"Remus," the Headmaster said carefully, "you must listen to me."
Lupin, still wearing a furious scowl, nodded very tentatively. He never kept his eyes off the Animagus.
"You have trusted me for many years, Remus. Lily and James Potter also put their trust in me, for better or for worse. You /must/ listen, Remus, or an innocent man will meet an unjust and terrible fate, and a guilty man will bring about the darkest evil yet to be seen in our times."
It sounded like one of those cheesy action films with their attempts to instill drama into the plotline, Remus mused, but he nodded again. He /did/ trust Dumbledore, without hesitation, with his life.
"Your friend Peter Pettigrew was the one who betrayed Lily and James, not Sirius," Dumbledore continued. Remus noticed how his old friend's eyes burned at the mention of that name. The fur on the dog's back rose even more sharply. "The Potters switched their Secret-Keeper at the last moment, because they believed you to be the-"
"Traitor," the werewolf finished shortly. "Yes, I know."
"Pettigrew then returned to his master-Lord Voldemort."
Remus' expression darkened. "He wouldn't have. Albus, he was one of our closest friends. A /Marauder/."
"What makes you able to accuse Sirius so easily, then? Sirius, who was also one of your best friends, and a fellow Marauder?" Dumbledore pointed out. "Do not let what you believed in the past to cloud your judgement now, Remus."
The other frowned. "But Peter is dead. /He/--" pointed to Sirius-"Killed him."
There was a slight /pop/, then Sirius changed back into his human form. His face was frightening. "That rat is /not/ dead. He cut off his own finger, threw out a curse, and transformed back into a rodent to escape in the sewers!" The rage contained in his voice was throbbing and clearly audible, despite its hoarseness. "He bloody well /framed/ me!" There was a mad glint in his eye as he continued, "But little Peter Pettigrew got the best of me for the last time. He liked powerful friends, that one. Always hung around me and James and you at school. It's not surprising that he moved on to what /he/ thought was a stronger master. A better 'friend.'"
Remus folded his arms across his chest. "All we have on the matter are your words against a wizard who's in the First Class Order of Merlin and resting six feet below the ground. The words of a despised murderer against the memory of a hero."
Sirius' expression contorted into one that was even more furious. "Dig him up, then! I dare you! Dig up his grave-if it even exists! See if you can find a body!"
"There /was/ no body because /you/ blasted everything that was left of him except for a damned finger!" The werewolf roared back, his usual cool demeanor deserting him. The memories of shock and pure, undiluted anger surged back to him-the feelings he'd experienced after hearing what had happened at Gordic's Hollow, the death of two of his dearest friends…
"Remus! Sirius!" Dumbledore barked sharply, cutting into their tension. "That will be quite /enough/! Remus do you really distrust your best friend that much?" His penetrating azure gaze was overwhelming. The werewolf was forced to look away.
"It's hard to… to take in, Headmaster," he replied gruffly. "No potion in the world would be able to convince me of something I would have to find out for myself."
Albus glanced sharply at the professor and decided that he would have to accept it as that. Wearily, he circled his desk and seated himself in it, leaning over on his elbows and bringing the tips of his long fingers together in deep thought. After a moment, he looked back up at the seething pair and said slowly, "there is an immediate problem on our hands, gentlemen. If what Sirius says is true… then Peter Pettigrew may already be on his way to find his master."
~*~
Remus stumbled back to his chambers in a daze. One of the fundamental blocks of his life and beliefs had just been promptly removed.
He debated on whether or not to inform Severus regarding their castle's new… /guest/… but then decided that Dumbledore would inform his friend if it was necessary. Snape needed his rest anyway, and the very /thought/ of Sirius Black was enough to send the man on a rampage.
While Remus had to look after him… The werewolf shuddered. Definitely not telling Severus.
He did, however, contact Molly Weasley by the fireplace system. He didn't really intend to discuss the Azkaban escapee with her, but after the morning's events, he really felt like talking to /someone/. And, since Harry was (oddly) still asleep and Snape would throw a fit if he woke him, Lupin decided that the cheerful smile of the Weasley mother was really the way to go.
"Oh, good morning, Remus!" The redheaded woman's plump face filled out into a bright expression of happiness. How anyone or anything could be that happy at this hour was beyond him, but he was grateful for it.
"'Morning, Molly," he replied, leaning over the edge of the fireplace. "Care for some breakfast?"
"No, thank you. Already ate and all." Mrs. Weasley responded, though with a grateful nod. "Did you see that terrible article that Rita Skeeter wrote on you and Severus? Is it true? I hope you're not shirking your responsibilities as his guardians-"
"What?" Remus demanded. "Never! Molly, d'you honestly think that we'd be so… so /irresponsible/?!"
Mrs. Weasley hesitated a moment, then said, truthfully, "yes." The werewolf was about to object when she winked at him. "But no less irresponsible than that Arthur of mine, so I'm positive that Harry will come out all right." This earned the first smile Remus had yet to give that day. "My husband's obsessed with eklectiricty too."
"Eklect-what?" Remus narrowed his eyes.
"You know. That thing that happened to you when you stuck a key in something and it shot you across the room." Molly clarified.
"You mean stupidity?"
"Sometimes I'm inclined to believe they're the same thing."
Remus huffed under his breath and swore that he'd get even with Severus after the man had told Mrs. Weasley /that/ particular story.
"Anyway," the woman continued, as if nothing had happened, "I woke up at /four/ this morning because Percy lost his rat. The boy has a set of lungs on him that you wouldn't believe, screaming us up from bed-"
"Rat?" Lupin asked quickly, frowning. "Did you say Percy has a rat?"
"/Had/," Molly replied. "It's a beat-up sort of creature, really, with a toe missing and all that."
"T-toe? Missing?" Remus accidentally spat out half of his mouthful of coffee on Mrs. Weasley's head. "Sorry, Molly. Did you say that the rat has a /toe/ missing? What does it look like?"
"The toe?" Mrs. Weasley asked, confused.
"No, the rat," Lupin answered quickly. "What does the /rat/ look like?"
"Like any normal rat, I suppose," she said slowly. "It's grey and overweight and has an ugly naked tail. It's really disheveled-looking, to be honest with you. Don't tell Percy I said that. And it seems to be absolutely /useless/ for magical purposes. We got it about two years ago, and it sleeps most of the time-"
For once, Remus found himself /very/ glad for Mrs. Weasley's attention to detail. "Thank you, Molly," he told her gratefully, albeit with great speed. "I have to go see the Headmaster now. Have a nice day!"
"You too, dear," She responded, distracted and obfuscated, disappearing with a small "pop" into the fire.
~*~
Haha! Done! Done! With this chapter at least! It took so freaking /long/ to decide where I was going to take this, but I'm happy with where it's going. Don't worry, there /will/ be more Harry-interaction in the future, but I had to build plot this time (again), which also accounts to the lack of humor. It's weird; plot building = no humor…
Anyway, I got one question about how Remus never noticed the presence of Wormtail at the Weasley's. Well, he was on the train with them when Ron had Peter with him as well, and he didn't notice him, so I figure there's only a very small plot hole there, if any.
Okay. I had some things in this that I just had to redo, so this is the second time I'm posting it. They're small changes, I know, but they've been bugging me for some time.
Thanks for reading! Please be kind enough drop a review!
Chapter Four ~*~ Searching for a Star
The large black dog sniffed and wagged his tail in eager enthusiasm.
He was an enormous, bear-like creature, with shaggy fur the color of soot and large, light blue eyes of a certain smoky luminescence that resembled the petals of a cornflower. He was ill-fed and the bones hung out visibly beneath his thin flesh. His paws were giant, badly scarred, and worn. A feathery tail curled up over his back in his temporary state of joy.
Hogwarts rolled into sight as he followed the scent trail up over the next rolling snowy hill. The sky was a perfect cerulean shade, and the blankets of snow twinkled merrily in response. The castle itself gleamed like a burnished trophy, windows shining and warmth practically emanating from it.
The dog sniffed again and broke into a brisk trot, tail thumping and tongue lolling out of his mouth like some stretch of pink ribbon. His breath steamed out in front of him in a cheerful fog. After all, there was hope for him here. Dumbledore was here. Along with-
The dog gave an almost-joyful sigh into the crisp air and continued on his way.
--Harry.
~*~
"See, Harry?" Remus bent over the table and pointed at the feather with his wand. Clear emerald eyes followed his every movement. Lupin then levitated the feather high up into the air so that it sank slowly downwards. A small smile crept onto the child's face.
Remus felt himself smile back. "It's a Levitation Charm. You'll learn it here, someday." The feather drifted back, landing softly onto the table.
The door to their quarters burst open. Snape stalked inside, his dark eyes snapping with rage that was so tangible that there seemed to be a small isolated stormcloud over his head, darkening his face. The Potions Master then proceeded to make himself a cup of tea and, clutching it tightly in a white-knuckled grip, sat down in a very angry way on their poor, abused couch.
Remus turned to him, raising a brow. "Bad day?" he questioned mildly. He received a scowl for his troubles, followed by a balled-up piece of parchment that flew over to hit him in the nose, then falling to the ground.
Lupin uttered a small "ow" and retrieved it, uncrumpling and scanning it over. It was an article from Witch Weekly, written by-
"Oh no," he muttered. "Not /that/ woman again-"
"That Rita Skeeter cow!" Snape snarled, hands clenching into claws, as if he were to rip out the obnoxious reporter's throat as they spoke. "I don't know /how/ that infernal woman does it, but I mean to /find out/!" he positively howled.
Remus glanced back at the article. The headline screamed, BOY-WHO-LIVED'S GUARDIANS WORRIED ABOUT THREAT OF SIRIUS BLACK. It then launched into an accusing tirade about the irresponsibility of both Remus and Severus ("how could Dumbledore trust a werewolf?").
"Hang on," Lupin said suddenly, tapping at the paper. "How did she know what Mrs. Weasley said, about taking Harry to Hogwarts?"
"Hex me if I know," Snape muttered back, rubbing his forehead wearily. "That damned woman needs-"
"Severus!" Remus snapped, as if on reflex. "/Harry/!"
"Oh, yes," Snape muttered absent-mindedly, acting quite unlike himself. He then proceeded to mumble a few incoherent sentences, pacing back and forth in their chambers, a troubled look in his dark eyes.
"Aren't you going to say hi to Harry, Severus?" Lupin asked lightly, breaking the odd mood that Snape had flung upon himself like a heavy, suffocating cloak. The potions master turned, blinked, and tried to say hello to his young charge. He didn't even make it that far, promptly falling over before the "h" had even formed on his lips.
~*~
"A simple case of exhaustion," Madame Pomfrey was saying. "The stress did him in."
Severus was lying on his bed, tucked in with a particularly foul expression on his face, one that suggested to the witch, /come any closer and I'll happily oblige by ripping your head off!/
Madame must have caught this, because she tutted under her tongue, shaking her head, but stepped promptly out of reach. "Don't even /think/ about getting up until at least two days have passed. I would recommend four, but knowing you…" She tutted again. "I can cure sprains, Professor Snape, but exhaustion of both physical and magical resources is not easily dealt with, nor strength easily restored. What were you /doing/ to wear yourself out like this?"
"Severus is a workaholic," Remus replied lightly.
"I am /not/," the other man retorted irritably. "For your information-"
"Enough. Just make sure he gets lots of uninterrupted rest and eats well." Pomfrey gave a roll of her eyes to the duo and a warm smile to Harry before returning to her own wing.
As she slammed the highly ornate door shut, Remus turned back to his grumpy companion. "She's right, Severus, what /were/ you doing?"
"What do you think?" Snape practically screamed, his eyes bulging. "That stupid reporter woman! I want her /dead/, Remus, and I will /see/ to it that her career is-" suddenly, he sucked in a very large breath, gave a small shrudder, and passed out cold on the bed.
"You see what I mean?" The werewolf said softly, tousling Harry's hair. "He's so wrapped up in everything else that even /ranting/ takes more energy out of him than it takes for ol' Moony to run a mile."
~*~
Dumbledore was on his way downstairs for one of his famous midnight snacks. The castle had been bitterly cold that night, with chilling drafts somehow managing to seep into the enchanted walls. He made a note himself to get that checked in the morning, but for tonight he didn't mind; it gave him a plausible reason for another nightly stroll.
Even though Dumbledore knew the castle like the back of his hand, he still found it difficult to navigate in the lack of light. The torches sprang into life as he passed them, casting odd shadows, but they did little to distinguish one trick stair from another.
There was a black flicker before him; Dumbledore stopped and frowned. It wasn't a scrap of shadow. There was something odd about the way that shade moved. It seemed almost… /alive/… He waited for a few moments, but it didn't return, so he resumed his way to the house-elves and a promising cup of hot chocolate.
There it was again, gliding across him, slower this time, so it was a blurred form moving against a corner. Dumbledore drew his wand and muttered, "/lumos/," bringing the odd shadow into full view.
It was a large black dog, lips raised in self-protective defiance and a savage light of aggression in its pale blue eyes. Its fur was tangled and matted, the tail rigid and paws spaced out in a flight-or-fight position. Dumbledore's frown deepened; there was something odd about this dog. He could dispatch it easily, but the animal seemed almost human…
The blue eyes rolled up at him, pale and defiant. He'd seen that look before, out of hundreds of visits to his office on accounts of blowing up Slytherins in their beds and pulling pranks on poor old Severus Snape and his lackeys…
"Sirius," the old wizard said nonchalantly, as if it was normal to meet another of his kind as a giant ebony dog that resembled the odd emaciated haystack. "What /are/ you doing here?"
The dog gave one more soft growl, then changed back to human form with a soft "pop." His hair was as matted as the dog's fur, his appearance as starved as the animal had been, and his eyes still as defiant. "Dumbledore," he whispered, his voice barely above a hoarse murmur. He opened his mouth to explain further, but Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing him.
"I'm sure there's a great deal you wish to tell me, Sirius," the old wizard said kindly. "However, my judgment tells me that you are in severe need of a bath and some decent food… maybe some real robes, too. You can relate your story later. Change back to your… Animagus form-" Dumbledore raised a brow here-"and follow me to the kitchens."
Sirius looked shocked for a moment, then a long, slow smile began to spread across his face. It made him look at least ten years younger and no longer as haggard. With another quiet "pop," he changed back into the shaggy canine and followed Dumbledore towards the warm aromas of the kitchens.
~*~
Remus was an early riser. As a child, he used to often sleep in, but after becoming a werewolf, he found it harder and harder to have a good night's rest. Especially after the full moon, he found himself unable to sleep at all, and he could never stay asleep after the sun came out. As a result, Lupin arose every morning between six and six-thirty, regular as clockwork. It had gotten to the point when you could keep track of time according to the hours he kept.
It was a weekend, and some students were already up and about, excited for their trip to Hogsmeade. A few were even at breakfast already, chatting with their group of friends. The holiday season was fast approaching and everyone was beginning to take in the excitement. The Great Hall was already decked out with decorations while the majority of the students were still there to enjoy them; streams of holly and ivy lined the snowing ceiling and candles were present absolutely everywhere. The table was decorated with sprigs of fresh plants and twelve trees, each proudly displaying their own unique set of ornaments, lined the entire affair.
Remus, however, was surprised by being greeted by Dumbledore and asked to proceed directly to the Headmaster's office.
The Headmaster was about as decorated as the castle. Obviously, the old wizard enjoyed the Christmas season and was seen wearing a different but appropriate set of robes every day for the week before the students left for break. Today, they were emerald-green, a touch deeper and somehow fuller than the color that adorned the Slytherin flags, with scarlet and gold trimmings. His spectacles glinted merrily off from the candle-cast light, but his expression was a rather grim one.
"Remus, there's something you need to see, up in my office." His voice was quiet, as if there was something that he didn't want overheard underlying his statements.
"All right, Professor, if you wish," Remus replied slowly, his curiosity piqued. And in that way they walked down the corridors and to Dumbledore's office.
Remus had been in this oddly-decorated, practically circular room more than a few times in his Hogwarts career, and he never failed to discover something new and exciting in it. This time, however, the surprise was not in the form of an odd gadget or a strange new panting. This time, it was alive.
This time, it was a giant soot-black dog.
The werewolf blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, then launched forward, his teeth bared into a snarl. "/Sirius Black/!" The hair shot up on the creature's back like a current of electricity had just zapped through it.
Before Remus could go on strangling the large animal, Dumbledore stepped between them. The ancient wizard's eyes held nothing but the most impatient seriousness, coupled with an almost urgent expression.
"Remus," the Headmaster said carefully, "you must listen to me."
Lupin, still wearing a furious scowl, nodded very tentatively. He never kept his eyes off the Animagus.
"You have trusted me for many years, Remus. Lily and James Potter also put their trust in me, for better or for worse. You /must/ listen, Remus, or an innocent man will meet an unjust and terrible fate, and a guilty man will bring about the darkest evil yet to be seen in our times."
It sounded like one of those cheesy action films with their attempts to instill drama into the plotline, Remus mused, but he nodded again. He /did/ trust Dumbledore, without hesitation, with his life.
"Your friend Peter Pettigrew was the one who betrayed Lily and James, not Sirius," Dumbledore continued. Remus noticed how his old friend's eyes burned at the mention of that name. The fur on the dog's back rose even more sharply. "The Potters switched their Secret-Keeper at the last moment, because they believed you to be the-"
"Traitor," the werewolf finished shortly. "Yes, I know."
"Pettigrew then returned to his master-Lord Voldemort."
Remus' expression darkened. "He wouldn't have. Albus, he was one of our closest friends. A /Marauder/."
"What makes you able to accuse Sirius so easily, then? Sirius, who was also one of your best friends, and a fellow Marauder?" Dumbledore pointed out. "Do not let what you believed in the past to cloud your judgement now, Remus."
The other frowned. "But Peter is dead. /He/--" pointed to Sirius-"Killed him."
There was a slight /pop/, then Sirius changed back into his human form. His face was frightening. "That rat is /not/ dead. He cut off his own finger, threw out a curse, and transformed back into a rodent to escape in the sewers!" The rage contained in his voice was throbbing and clearly audible, despite its hoarseness. "He bloody well /framed/ me!" There was a mad glint in his eye as he continued, "But little Peter Pettigrew got the best of me for the last time. He liked powerful friends, that one. Always hung around me and James and you at school. It's not surprising that he moved on to what /he/ thought was a stronger master. A better 'friend.'"
Remus folded his arms across his chest. "All we have on the matter are your words against a wizard who's in the First Class Order of Merlin and resting six feet below the ground. The words of a despised murderer against the memory of a hero."
Sirius' expression contorted into one that was even more furious. "Dig him up, then! I dare you! Dig up his grave-if it even exists! See if you can find a body!"
"There /was/ no body because /you/ blasted everything that was left of him except for a damned finger!" The werewolf roared back, his usual cool demeanor deserting him. The memories of shock and pure, undiluted anger surged back to him-the feelings he'd experienced after hearing what had happened at Gordic's Hollow, the death of two of his dearest friends…
"Remus! Sirius!" Dumbledore barked sharply, cutting into their tension. "That will be quite /enough/! Remus do you really distrust your best friend that much?" His penetrating azure gaze was overwhelming. The werewolf was forced to look away.
"It's hard to… to take in, Headmaster," he replied gruffly. "No potion in the world would be able to convince me of something I would have to find out for myself."
Albus glanced sharply at the professor and decided that he would have to accept it as that. Wearily, he circled his desk and seated himself in it, leaning over on his elbows and bringing the tips of his long fingers together in deep thought. After a moment, he looked back up at the seething pair and said slowly, "there is an immediate problem on our hands, gentlemen. If what Sirius says is true… then Peter Pettigrew may already be on his way to find his master."
~*~
Remus stumbled back to his chambers in a daze. One of the fundamental blocks of his life and beliefs had just been promptly removed.
He debated on whether or not to inform Severus regarding their castle's new… /guest/… but then decided that Dumbledore would inform his friend if it was necessary. Snape needed his rest anyway, and the very /thought/ of Sirius Black was enough to send the man on a rampage.
While Remus had to look after him… The werewolf shuddered. Definitely not telling Severus.
He did, however, contact Molly Weasley by the fireplace system. He didn't really intend to discuss the Azkaban escapee with her, but after the morning's events, he really felt like talking to /someone/. And, since Harry was (oddly) still asleep and Snape would throw a fit if he woke him, Lupin decided that the cheerful smile of the Weasley mother was really the way to go.
"Oh, good morning, Remus!" The redheaded woman's plump face filled out into a bright expression of happiness. How anyone or anything could be that happy at this hour was beyond him, but he was grateful for it.
"'Morning, Molly," he replied, leaning over the edge of the fireplace. "Care for some breakfast?"
"No, thank you. Already ate and all." Mrs. Weasley responded, though with a grateful nod. "Did you see that terrible article that Rita Skeeter wrote on you and Severus? Is it true? I hope you're not shirking your responsibilities as his guardians-"
"What?" Remus demanded. "Never! Molly, d'you honestly think that we'd be so… so /irresponsible/?!"
Mrs. Weasley hesitated a moment, then said, truthfully, "yes." The werewolf was about to object when she winked at him. "But no less irresponsible than that Arthur of mine, so I'm positive that Harry will come out all right." This earned the first smile Remus had yet to give that day. "My husband's obsessed with eklectiricty too."
"Eklect-what?" Remus narrowed his eyes.
"You know. That thing that happened to you when you stuck a key in something and it shot you across the room." Molly clarified.
"You mean stupidity?"
"Sometimes I'm inclined to believe they're the same thing."
Remus huffed under his breath and swore that he'd get even with Severus after the man had told Mrs. Weasley /that/ particular story.
"Anyway," the woman continued, as if nothing had happened, "I woke up at /four/ this morning because Percy lost his rat. The boy has a set of lungs on him that you wouldn't believe, screaming us up from bed-"
"Rat?" Lupin asked quickly, frowning. "Did you say Percy has a rat?"
"/Had/," Molly replied. "It's a beat-up sort of creature, really, with a toe missing and all that."
"T-toe? Missing?" Remus accidentally spat out half of his mouthful of coffee on Mrs. Weasley's head. "Sorry, Molly. Did you say that the rat has a /toe/ missing? What does it look like?"
"The toe?" Mrs. Weasley asked, confused.
"No, the rat," Lupin answered quickly. "What does the /rat/ look like?"
"Like any normal rat, I suppose," she said slowly. "It's grey and overweight and has an ugly naked tail. It's really disheveled-looking, to be honest with you. Don't tell Percy I said that. And it seems to be absolutely /useless/ for magical purposes. We got it about two years ago, and it sleeps most of the time-"
For once, Remus found himself /very/ glad for Mrs. Weasley's attention to detail. "Thank you, Molly," he told her gratefully, albeit with great speed. "I have to go see the Headmaster now. Have a nice day!"
"You too, dear," She responded, distracted and obfuscated, disappearing with a small "pop" into the fire.
~*~
Haha! Done! Done! With this chapter at least! It took so freaking /long/ to decide where I was going to take this, but I'm happy with where it's going. Don't worry, there /will/ be more Harry-interaction in the future, but I had to build plot this time (again), which also accounts to the lack of humor. It's weird; plot building = no humor…
Anyway, I got one question about how Remus never noticed the presence of Wormtail at the Weasley's. Well, he was on the train with them when Ron had Peter with him as well, and he didn't notice him, so I figure there's only a very small plot hole there, if any.
Okay. I had some things in this that I just had to redo, so this is the second time I'm posting it. They're small changes, I know, but they've been bugging me for some time.
Thanks for reading! Please be kind enough drop a review!