A/N: Look, it's another chapter. I probably have entirely new readers now, as it has been the better part of a year since I last wrote. I don't know. Things changed. I fell in love, started going to running start, got involved in community theater…but I'd been thinking about this story lately and wanting to FINISH IT. Now I'm getting closer. Thanks to everyone who's sticking with me.

~Katameran

Broken Trust – chapter 9

Sirius felt his mouth drop open. Moments before he had felt that nothing could surprise him, but to see Severus Snape standing before him as his death eater guard had done it. Much later, he would wonder why it had surprised him. He had always suspected Snape of working for Voldemort. Then again, Albus Dumbledore seemed to trust him.

"You have nothing to say, for once?" Snape asked with a mocking sneer. "I'm impressed."

"I'd break your jaw, but then I think I'd fail my test."

"That depends entirely."

"You want me to break your jaw?"

"I presume you two know each other?"

Sirius jumped. He had forgotten all about the other initiate. He had also forgotten about Pettigrew. A quick glance reassured him that Peter was still there. The man was too paranoid to even try run away.

"Ah, Felix." Severus said. "I'd forgotten that the two of you had yet to be introduced. Felix, this is Sirius. Sirius, this is Felix. Sirius and I went to Hogwarts together, many years ago of course. As you won't be able to recognize Remus Lupin, Sirius shall point him out to you."

Sirius gritted his teeth to keep the blood from either draining from his head or rushing to his face. He would probably die at Hogwarts now, thanks to this situation. He was to bring Harry to Voldemort after regaining Remus' trust. Then Felix was to kill Remus. Snape would be watching. There would be no way out.

Better to die at Hogwarts near those he had loved, and with his happy memories, than alone in a cell of the most evil man in the world.

***

Remus paced in front of the headmaster's desk.

"Do you think they'll be back soon?"

"It is hard to say. Severus should have returned with news by now, but there has been no word. This could mean a number of things, of course, but I am still slightly worried."

"Is there any way they could get in here?"

"I'm afraid, Remus, that I cannot begin to fathom the plans in the head of the Dark Lord. We shall have to wait and see."

Dumbledore smiled as he looked towards the window. "It looks to be a beautiful sunset."

"Sunset brings darkness, professor." Remus said soberly.

***

Harry and Hermione walked the halls of Hogwarts together, heading to their common room. Ron had left dinner early with a stomachache. Hermione had wanted to borrow a reference book from Professor Lupin, but they had been unable to find him. She had finally allowed that it could wait until class the next day.

By now the hallways were mostly empty. So far they had only seen a trio of Ravenclaws on their way to their own common room. The hallways were also unusually dark for after dinner. Maybe it was just Harry's imagination, but he had the distinct feeling that something was following them quietly through the dimmed corridors.

He glanced at Hermione, who was still quiet. Probably still trying to sort things out in her head. She didn't seem to be at all concerned with the surroundings. He mentally smacked himself for being a coward.

***

Remus stood in the window of his office, watching as the sun slipped away over the horizon. The light turned from pink to a deep blue and a few stars appeared. He would not sleep tonight. Already he could feel danger in the air.

A glance at his desk showed essays to be graded and a test to be drawn up, but he doubted he could concentrate tonight.

"You might as well try." He said aloud, making himself jump. "You are, after all, a teacher. These kids need their education if they're going to survive this world. You, a werewolf, are a defense against the dark arts teacher and that might be the most important thing to them now."

He sat down in his comfortable chair and picked up his lesson plan book.

***

"Harry?" Hermione said quietly?

"Yes?" He responded, equally hushed.

"Do you-˝ she paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you feel like there's something following us?"

***

It was no use. The lesson plan book dropped to the desk. The best thing he could do for his students right now would to be to make a round of the castle – assure himself that everything was, in fact, secure. Perhaps after he convinced himself of the safety of everyone, he could really do some work. Remus pushed his chair back, stretched, and then walked towards the door.

He had secretly thought that once he was in the familiar hallways, he would feel better. This was not the case. As soon as he turned the first corner, he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he reached for his wand with a shiver.

Remus had had a difficult life, considering what he was. In the years after he was first bitten, he had learned first to sense danger in others. If there was someone who would threaten him, he had learned to judge that person before the deed could happen. He wasn't sure when exactly it had happened, but he had begun to almost be able to smell danger when it was near, as though it was carried on the air. He definitely smelled it now.

***

"C'mon." Harry said grimly, hand on his wand. "We have to keep going."

"What do you think it is?" Hermione asked. "Who do you think it is?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think it's…?" Her voice trailed off.

"I don't know." Harry said, more sharply this time.

A sudden noise and then a shouted curse came from behind them. Hermione screamed and Harry whirled around, tripping over his feet and her feet and falling into the wall. The curse set off simple sparks that shot harmlessly past them. The sound of laughter could be heard.

"SHIT!" Harry snapped. "What the HELL do you think you're DOING?"

"It's Malfoy." Hermione snarled. Her wand was out and she marched purposefully back down the corridor. "So, do you think this is funny? There are KILLERS out there right now and you're sneaking around Hogwarts late at night SCARING PEOPLE? Then you're too cowardly to show your face! Come ON Draco, get out here and face me like a man. If your father were here he'd be ashamed of you for backing down to a goddamned MUDBLOOD!"

Her face had gone pale with rage.

Harry felt a sudden clench of fear in his stomach. Suppose it wasn't Malfoy after all? Suppose it was a trick? Hermione disappeared around the corner, still yelling. He froze for a second, and then ran after her. She stood in the middle of the empty corridor.

"Gone. The bloody cowards. They deserve far worse then they ever get."

"Hermione, can we please just go back to the common rooms now?"

"Fine."

***

Remus walked quietly, ears alert. His senses screamed at him, his muscles were tense and ready to react to something – anything.

This was ridiculous. He had no reason to feel this way. The halls were empty, as they should be at this hour, with no sign of trouble.

But somehow, it was too quiet. Just too quiet. He suddenly felt the urge to turn back to his office, although he was unsure of what he was supposed to find there. He was completely unprepared for the sight of Sirius, Peter Pettigrew, a stranger, and a masked death eater.

He and Sirius raised their wands at the same time. Remus was slightly faster on the curse and Sirius slumped to the floor, unconscious. The stranger went for his wand, but the masked death eater shouted a curse, knowing the man out as well. The same curse hit Pettigrew. Severus Snape pulled off his mask.

"Nice reflexes, Remus."

"You as well, Severus, although maybe next time you could offer some warning? Preferably before I reach my office?"

"No time."

"Ah. Now what?"

***

Sirius woke up as a boot connected with his side, and then wondered wildly how he had managed to get back to Voldemort's lair. Then, with a sinking feeling, he realized that he was in a ministry cell – and the boot belonged to Remus. It was strange, having Remus kick him like that. Remus didn't turn violent when angry.

He turned violent when particularly disgusted.

Shit.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I'm going to continue my tradition of thanking previous reviewers, even though I know that most of you probably aren't still reading.

Heath: Well, now I bet you REALLY think I fell off of the earth! I'm back…glad it's interesting!

Hermione*PotterGurl: Well…right here, of course!!

K B: It's ok…Evil Sirius intrigues me also. I don't like Harry very much either. Maybe in another story I can…no, wait, I don't want to give anything away!!! Thanks for reviewing!

Tarawyn: I'm sorry Remus is too controlled – seems like he's been that way all story. I just wrote him as I saw Remus…the control is there, but there's plenty of emotion with it. This chapter that I just wrote was definitely not my best one, but it was a rather desperate link to the end which will be a lot better if I can pull it off. Think about much emotion with little control…

You still rock!

Fire Spirit: The Malfoy family is twisted, although I'd like to work with them more. Probably because they're so twisted. Thanks for the review.

Wellduh: I don't know if even you are THIS patient. I hope you haven't completely lost interest in my story though, I promise – I'm still here!!

AllAboutMe: Yeah, I know my chapters are rare. I'd rather do good work then dash them off, know what I mean? I'm a slow writer, guess if I wrote more quickly I'd have more readers. Oh well. I love all of you. Thanks for the compliments!

Kaylin: shh…

Abby: Thanks! Here's more.