Disclaimer:- Again the characters are not mine. Not mine, and never will be. They belong to JKR.

Dedication:- This chapter is dedicated to SIG for staying up all night with me to proof read my project. That was a wonderful thing to do sweetie...thankyou!!!

- Chapter 6 -

Sirius waited while Remus locked the door. He was still slightly edgy after the argument he and Remus had just finished. He should have realised that Remus might have a problem with what people thought of him, he was always the quieter one at school, the one who held back and became more easily embarrassed. Sirius had never really cared what others thought and 12 years in Azkaban had made him worry even less. After having the World think of him as a mass murderer, their opinion of his choice of lover seemed insignificant. People were hardly going to say "Oh! That Sirius Black, we know he's evil and a killer, but you know what the worst thing is? He sleeps with a man!" The people whose opinions did matter to him were either dead, or open-minded enough to accept things as they were. Sirius knew it was different far Remus though. He had spent the whole of his life worrying what people thought and having his life run by those people. He was just glad he had spoken to Remus before the other man had stressed himself to the point of giving up on this chance of happiness for them both.

Remus turned and smiled at Sirius. His golden hair was tied at his neck with a leather thong and Sirius thought he looked beautiful. There was no way he was going to let Remus deny this just because of a few needless worries. He kissed him.

"So. Am I the intrepid investigator's faithful dog?" Sirius joked, knowing he would have to remain in dog form a lot of the time. Though his likeness had not been circulated in over a year in the muggle world, and in that time he had put on weight and cleaned up, he still might be recognised. Remus grinned at him.

"Something like that." He said as they walked down the path and out through the gate. The two of them were going to apparate just outside Kinlochard before heading into the town. "I'll have to rely on your sense of smell too." Remus continued.

"Really? I though it was at its peak just after the full moon. Plus with it being another wolf I though you would have no problem."

"I shouldn't, but I'll rely on you for confirmation. And we'd better set up a way that I know what you are saying in dog form." Sirius nodded. The two men decided that nodding and head shaking were fine for yes and no, just to be done subtly. Growling was to say that Sirius was uneasy, and a bark meant definite danger. Two barks was to leave as soon as possible and three barks was the key to get out of there now and to meet back at the apparating point just outside Kinlochard, no matter where it was they were. With that they apparated.

The trees were thinner here and Sirius could hear the far off sounds of children playing. He grinned at Remus before transforming into a dog. Remus patted him playfully between the ears. Sirius began to snuffle around, trying to pick up a hint of the she-wolf. The scent should be reasonably strong after only one day as, Sirius knew from experience, werewolf scent was strong. Enticing, but strong. Could Remus' own essence be blocking out the smell? Sirius was just about to transform again to tell Remus he would search slightly away from him when he picked it up. In his dog form it was like a huge stamp. Wolf. Sirius looked up at Remus and by the cock of his head he knew Remus had picked it up too. They looked at each other and followed the trail through the trees.

As they got closer to a house in the distance Sirius could smell Remus becoming more and more nervous. He had been living as a hermit for almost a year. It was no wonder he was uncomfortable about suddenly meeting people, muggles especially.

The house up ahead seemed to be where the wolf scent was leading. Sirius hoped it was not because it had attacked anyone there. The house was large and detached. It was clearly old by the stone brickwork, but kept well. There was a high wooden fence around the back garden. The two men skirted around it and came to a path leading to an old oak front door. The whole area burned with the wolf smell and Sirius looked up at Remus again. He nodded. Remus sighed and walked up to knock the heavy cast-iron knocker.

Sirius had no idea what he had been expecting, but the plain and normal looking man who answered the door was not it. The man had short dark hair and a ghost of dark stubble across his chin. He was young, probably in his late twenties or early thirties and was wearing a white apron just round his waist, half hiding blue jeans and dark blue T-shirt. He was looking at Remus with a frown.

"Can I help you?" Sirius could smell fear. It was heavy on this man. He was terrified about something but trying to hide it. From his body language he was not used to visitors, never mind strangers. Sirius mentally kicked himself for not figuring out a reason for dropping in, washing machine salesman or something, and hoped Remus would be quick to think of something.

Remus spoke. "Hello. We're here to see your wife." The man blinked. The smell of fear intensified. He was afraid for her.

"She's, um....we?" Sirius was confused for a second before realising that Remus had said "we". He closed his eyes.

"Me and ......er... my dog." Sirius could see the slight smile that appeared on the man's face. If he had not been so afraid he would have laughed.

"Well, what is it that you and your dog want with my wife?" The man crossed his arms. Sirius did not have to have dog intuition to know basic body language. His whole posture screamed fear and aggression. Sirius really hoped that Remus could think of a good reason for being here.

"We're here to help her. I know she's a werewolf." If Sirius had hands he would have smacked himself on the head. Or maybe Remus. What was he thinking?

The man took a shock back in shock. His mouth was open. "How do you kn......I mean......what, what are you talking about? Who are you?" He tried to regain his composure, moving forward again to try and block the door. He was clearly shocked and terrified of Remus but trying desperately the keep control of the situation. Sirius was wondering if this might end up in a fight when a female hand touched the man's shoulder. A woman with long brunette hair came into view. The gentle pressure of her hand on his shoulder seemed enough to move him aside. She was looking at her husband.

"Jack, it's ok. Let them in." She then looked at Remus. "You're him aren't you. The other wolf." The man looked even more shocked when Remus nodded. She then looked down at Sirius. "And...your dog. He's...he was there too." She frowned slightly, confused. "He isn't..." She looked back at Remus. "He isn't a dog."

Sirius tensed. Could she tell that? Remus had always known that he was actually an animagi, but could other wolves that did not know sense the difference? This was an interesting and potentially worrying fact.

"Well, could we talk about this inside?" The man, Jack, stepped back completely and Sirius followed Remus into the house.