Storm Child

AUTHOR: Hex

RATING: PG-13

WARNINGS: Angst. Slash. Alcoholism. Resurrection.

DISCLAIMER: As standard

NOTE: Bah, FF.Net sucks! Anyway, as promised here is part four of Storm Child, exclusive (for now) to this site.

NOTE: I have moved to Cardiff and now work in a local school as a CSV Volunteer...Wales is fun! I

need to go shopping though, I have no food and no lamp ^.^;;

THANKS: My roomies for leaving me alone long enough for me to finish this n.n;

********

After what had seemed like an eternity on that cold kitchen floor, Remus had fallen asleep and Sirius had put him to bed. Now he sat by an open window in a shaft of clear moonlight, gazing up at the three quarter moon shining down upon him. The figure on the bed behind him worried him. What had happened to make Remus believe that killing Harry was the right thing for the boy?

He had to get his Werewolf friend away from this isolated house and back into civilisation. But where could he take him? Remus had only ever felt truly accepted in three places his whole life.

The first was, of course Hogwarts. Not an option seeing as it was closed for the holidays.

The second was the apartment he and Sirius had shared after they had graduated school and entered the Ministry. Again, not an option, other people were probably living their now.

The last option was Godrics Hollow, where Lilly and James had lived after their marriage. But the house had been destroyed in Voldemort's attack and, even now, lay in ruins as a constant reminder of his awesome power.

And now he was back, ready to reduce even more homes to rubble.

Dragging his thoughts back from the cusp of rage once again, Sirius closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to think. Where could he possibly take him? It would have to be somewhere where people knew the truth about Voldemort's return and his innocence. Was their such a place?

Then it struck him. At first he was unwilling to consider the option, having no real connection with those in question. Then he chanced the glance at the recumbent figure on the bed behind him, snoring softly. He could not risk leaving Remus alone and he certainly could not allow him to stay in the house a moment longer than necessary.

Not for the first time, he wished Remus's house was connected to the Floo Network. Being a wanted criminal he could not risk Apparating, the Ministry were surly monitoring all Apparating activity closely. Alas it was not to be, they would have to take the Muggle way.

Leaving his post by the window, Sirius made his way down through the house and outside towards the separate garage. Opening the unlocked door he stared at the vehicle sitting under a tarpaulin.

Lilly's old car.

He remembered the first time he, James, Remus and Peter had ridden in it, shortly after Lilly got her license in their Seventh year. He remembered how amazed they had all been that the thing ran on gas rather than magic. In fact, they had been amazed the thing ran at all, considering Lilly's dubious driving skills.

He wondered why Remus still had the thing, considering neither of them could drive.

Still, James had made a few 'modifications' to the car, which was why it was in Remus's possession and not in storage like everything else the Potters had owned, waiting for Harry to reach eighteen so as he could sign for them. If the Ministry ever found out about this car, Remus would be in a whole heap of trouble. It was the one possession from which James' own brand of mischievous magic could not be removed.

Still, it was all they had so it would have to do. He pulled the tarp off of the car and stashed it in the trunk before stepping back to survey the car once again. It still had the dent on the hood from the cyclist Lilly had hit.

Sirius shook his head, smiling.

Worst Driver Ever.

*****

~Story Hijacking In Process~

Lookit, lookit! My first mention of the Potters pre-death. I like to think of Lilly as a 'free-spirit' generally so I thought she would have to be a lousy driver, simply to fit in with her personality in my head.

Also never fear, the slash is coming soon!

~We now return you to your regularly scheduled story~

*****

Life at The Burrow these days was considerably more sedate than usual. The bangs from the twins room, however loud, were much less frequent and seemed very contrived. The Ghoul in the attic was working overtime trying to liven the house up when it got too quiet and even Mrs Weasley's chickens seemed much less energetic. (Why on earth do they have chickens at The Burrow!?)

The once lively and bustling house had lost whatever life it had once possessed.

Bill Weasley sat in the back garden, soaking up some late summer sun and thinking about the past. Being the second eldest son, Bill could still remember vividly the time Voldemort had been in power.

Bill had been ten years old when Voldemort had finally fallen to Harry Potter, and was preparing to start his first year at Hogwarts the next September. He had spent much of his youth inside the house, his mother to afraid to let him out for fear of what would happen to him. He remembered meeting numerous Aurors and Unmentionables which had come to the house to speak with his father.

He remembered the vow he had made one night when he was seven. He had been unable to sleep due to a nightmare and had gone downstairs to find his parents. They had been sitting by the fire and his parents had been crying. His mothers best friend had been killed by Death Eaters. His mothers best friend and his fathers sister.

Standing on the stairs then, in a night shirt and clutching a ratty old teddy bear William Weasley had made a silent vow.

I will grow strong. I will fight. I will not fall. My parents will not cry for me or mine.

He had started Hogwarts with that vow still imprinted upon his mind. It had paid off as well and he had become Head Boy. But by the time he had left school, Voldemort and his Death Eaters were no more than a terrible memory and so he had taken his vast knowledge of curses and gone to work for Gringotts.

Now he was back and Bill had a decision to make. Dumbledore had offered him a position on a team whose job it would be to hunt down and bring in - alive where possible - all known Death Eaters and to deal with whatever Voldemort may throw at them. It was dangerous work and his mother was very much against the idea of her son being in the front lines as it were.

Was this the sort of choice those who joined Muggle wars had to make? Family or your way of life?

Had he not spent his entire academic life, trying to become strong enough to fight? Was this not his dream, to make sure his parents never cried again? Now it came down to it, was this what he wanted?

"Bill?"

Bill turned in his seat to face Ron, who was standing in the doorway holding two glasses of something cold. His youngest brother approached him, holding out a glass. "Something wrong, Bill?"

"Nah, what makes you think there is?"

"Well, everyone just seems a little...I dunno...Distracted, lately."

"Yeah well, a lot's happened, ain't it?"

"Yeah. Bill, can I ask you something?"

"Sure kid, shoot."

"Well...Why do you, dad and Charlie keep...keep...Is that a flying car?"

Bill turned his gaze towards the sky. There, coming in low across the fields was a vintage Mustang car. (Mustang is about the only make of car I know ^.^;;) "Did Fred and George steal dads car again?"

"No." Ron replied, still staring. "They're in their room, I was with them a minute ago."

"It's coming in pretty fast isn't it..."

"...Yeah." They sat in silence for a moment, watching the car approach.

"I think..." Bill said ponderously, "that we should run."

They only just managed to get clear as the car crashed loudly into the sun lounger Bill had been sitting on, crushing it.

It took a moment for the dust to settle and the rest of the Weasley clan to assemble before Sirius kicked his door open and fell into an undignified heap on the floor, muttering a few choice swear words as he went. The passenger door opened more sedately and Remus stepped out, staring up at The Burrow as he said; "I thought you knew how to drive."

"I never said that." Sirius replied, pulling himself to his feet. "I never said I could drive, I just said I would."

"You're an idiot."

"I know."

*****

~Story Hijacking In Process~

Yeah I know, I'm hijacking again. It's just occurred to me that this is a four part Harry Potter fic with no Harry Potter in it. I should rectify the situation.

I should.

I'm not gonna...

~We now return you to your regularly scheduled story~

*****

"They have gone to the Weasley's," said a sneering voice from somewhere within the deep shadows of the cavernous room. "They are seeking shelter there."

"That will makes this difficult." Came a second voice. "It will make their deaths harder to cover up."

"Why must we cover them up?" Came a third voice, shaking with excitement. "We should let the world know we have returned!"

"Don't be a fool!" Snapped the first voice angrily. "What would be the point in that? Would you have those bungling Auroras hunt us down like dogs? They will not care if the werewolf and the murderer turn up dead without witnesses. Only that fool Dumbledore will care."

"Dumbledore is many things." Said the second voice, coolly. "But he is not a fool. You would do well not to underestimate his intelligence and power."

"Power?" Laughed the first. "What power does he have? He cannot fight our Master, he is just an old man who sways impressionable young minds through mystery and awe."

"It amazed me how you have survived within the ranks of He Who Must Not Be Named this long, Malfoy. Your arrogance will be your undoing. The Master has put me in charge of this operation. We will go tonight, the werewolf and the murderer will die, witnesses or not witnesses."

*****

Sirius Black and Remus Lupin sat on one side of the long kitchen table in The Burrow with Mr and Mrs Weasley sitting directly opposite them, concerned looks on their faces. The Weasley children had been sent to their rooms where, even now, four of them were frantically penning letters to The Boy Who Lived.

"So we were wondering if we could stay here until the new school year starts and we can seek Dumbledore's...Advice."

Remus was glaring hard at the table top, his face burning with shame. Why did Sirius have to tell these people he drank? So what? It stopped the pain, at least for a little while, where was the harm in that?

Mrs Weasley was nodding hard. "Of course, of course. You can stay in Ron's room. Arthur, tell Ron to move his things down to Fred and George's room."

"Molly, dear-"

"Arthur!"

"Yes dear." He disappeared upstairs. Sirius wondered if the man always had that terrified look on his face or if it was just the presence of a 'murderer' and a werewolf in his home.

"It will be a full moon soon...Is there somewhere..." He left the question hanging in the air.

"Of course." Mrs Weasley said, standing up. "We can put some wards up in the paddock at the back of the garden, keep him in..."

"Mrs Weasley?" Sirius said carefully, as the elder woman began to move around the kitchen, apparently preparing a meal of some description. "Have you heard from Harry at all this summer?"

"Hmm? Yes, of course. He usually sends Ron a letter or two a week."

"Oh."

There was a pause then: "You haven't heard from him then?"

"No. I just thought Hedwig may be...It's not important."

Mrs Weasley gave him an affectionate smile. "He's got a lot on his mind, that one. I think Dumbledore is right, we should just leave him be."

"Yes. It is for the best I suppose. I just wish I knew he was alright."

*****

~Story Hijacking in Process~

I know these hijackings must be annoying but just think, at least it means this part isn't finished yet! I know a lot of their arrival at the Weasley's was glossed over but I wanna get to the plot, Damnit!

~We now return you to your regularly scheduled story~

*****

It was night now, Remus Lupin lay in bed awake, staring up at the ceiling where members of the Chudley Cannons were zooming silently over his head. He knew why he was here, Sirius was worried that if they were alone something would happen. Something bad.

What did Sirius think he was going to do? Jump him? He had gotten over his feelings for Padfoot a long time ago. He had been able to attend Harry's Christening without any problems at all. They had been friends again, it had been nice.

Then Sirius had been arrested and Remus had been left, alone, believing that his former lover had been responsible for the deaths of two of their closest friends. That thought had slowly begun to drive him insane.

He had suspected, two years ago, when Dumbledore had offered him the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, that he had done so to keep an eye on him. Even then he had known he was out of control. He had begun spending time with a group of rogue werewolves, trashing bars and drinking himself into an early grave.

His year at Hogwarts had been wonderful, he'd felt as though he was coming home after a long vacation. Then he had lost his job and been plunged back into despair.

Was Dumbledore's sending Sirius to him just another attempt of the old Headmaster to guide him back onto the safe path? Well if it was he knew where he could stick his 'good intentions'.

Stumbling slightly and fuelled by self-righteous anger, Remus hauled himself from the bed and left Ron's room. He was impressed with himself that he managed to make it downstairs without waking anyone and, feeling very claustrophobic all of a sudden, made his way to the kitchen door and let himself out, into the back garden.

Moonlight hit him in full force and he turned his face to the sky, smelling the primal magic on the wind.

"Well well well. I never thought you make it this easy."

Then there was black.

*****

Be proud, it's long! Long I tell you! LOOOONG! 2543 words! YAY!

Nope, to tired, got nothing else to say.

R&R Required (Sign the reviewers Guestbook!)

Laters

Hex