It was Halloween, and Remus was on duty. No, not that kind, the one involving getting out on the streets and being on surveillance. No, this was the mind numbing long haul know as house sitting. Grimmauld Place--headquarters of The Order, the base of operations, and the darkest, most repressing setting Remus could imagine. Even The Shrieking Shack had nothing on THIS house.

It was some time after eleven but before the half hour--Remus knew this because he vaguely recalled that the clock had chimed. He tried passing the time with--what else?--a book; though, truth be told, browsing through the Black family library had been an adventure. He knew books could be dangerous, but he never thought that some of them actually went for the throat. He finally settled for "The History of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black"--but eleven pages in he threw the book down in disgust. It laid there on the floor, next to the fireplace. Remus failed to care whether or not sparks fell on it.

He stretched, gazing around the drawing room. How did Sirius ever manage to live here for those months, trapped in this black private hell? He thought of his friend--he escaped from one prison to resign himself to another. He wished his friend could have seen happier times before his death--but enough of that, before the memories brought back the sadness as well. Before the thoughts brought back the pain that was still sharp, even after these five months…

A soft rapping outside the drawing room ripped his attention away from his own thoughts. Remus rose to his feet, the surprise of the sound triggering his adrenaline--the house seemed to become alive as his senses became sharper.

He stood still, straining his ears to hear the sound again. Could it have been the result of his boredom and isolation in the house?

But the knock came again, this time, louder. It came from the front door, and who ever was knocking was obviously trying to make their presence known without disturbing the house.

Remus hurried to the door, making his footsteps light but quick. The picture of Mrs. Black was sleeping behind the curtains. Best to keep it that way.

The knocking came again, this time more persistent. Remus smirked as he recognized that only Tonks used "Shave and a Haircut" to make her presence know. But Tonks had the night off--what would she be doing here?

Remus opened the floor.

"TRICK OR TREAT!!"

"BASTARD HALF BREED! SOWER OF EVIL AND BAD BLOOD! EATER OF INNOCENCE! BE GONE FROM MY ANCESTRAL--"