Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own any of the characters, places, etc. except for Serena. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Author's note: Yay! You like me! I'm so excited people are reading this. *Does happy dance* just a few quick notes to the lovely reviewers…
Carlie—My first review! Thank you, you made my day.
Ashliegh—Oh, Remus… poor puppy. I'm so mean to him. I'm glad you like it. I thought that might be too much, but I love angst. And just wait. It gets better...
Lucky star—thanks so much for the flashback suggestion. It worked out great!
And to Brendar—you better be reading this, country mouse… or you won't get the lovely*koffkoff* Snape fic that may be brewing.
Chapter Four
Dumbledore arrived at the Phoenix headquarters at sunup the next morning in search of Serena.
Having not slept a wink, Remus was sitting in the kitchen; slumped over a cold cup of tea when Dumbledore arrived. When the Headmaster apparated in the kitchen, Remus lifted his head a little, and then tiredly let it drop again. "Albus." He greeted flatly.
Dumbledore eyed him over his half-moon glasses. "Remus?" His voice was gentle, concerned. "You need to get rest."
With great effort, Remus bit back an angry retort. Dumbledore wasn't to blame for his lack of sleep. If he could blame anyone, it would be Serena. With her sweet concern and careless words, she had made sleep impossible. But he couldn't blame her.
No, he only had himself to blame.
"I'm fine." He lied, knowing that Dumbledore wouldn't push. "What brings you here so early?"
Dumbledore settled on the bench across from Remus. "I have an errand for Serena."
"What kind of errand?" Serena's soft voice came from the hall; moments before she entered the kitchen dressed for traveling and wide awake.
She looked well rested, Remus thought with irritation, glaring at her. But when he looked at her eyes, he could see that they were troubled.
Her smile dimmed when she met his gaze and then she looked away. Pretending that Remus wasn't even in the room, she sat next to Dumbledore, asking again, "What kind of errand?"
"I need you to go to Hogsmeade for me." He explained.
Serena nodded. "And then what?" She knew there was more to it than that.
"And meet with Mundungus. He has some information for me."
"Where am I to meet him?" Serena asked, rising.
"At the Hog's Head." Dumbledore answered. "I'll come back this evening."
"All right." Serena turned to go, happy to finally have something to do. Something that would take her mind off of Remus.
"Hang on." Remus called out suddenly.
Serena turned to him, finally acknowledging his presence. "What?"
But, Remus' attention was on Dumbledore, not her. "The Hog's Head? That's no place for her."
Serena snorted. "You have to be joking. I can handle myself." She told Remus.
He barely glanced at her. "I'll go." He told Dumbledore.
"No, you won't." Serena responded. "Don't be ridiculous." Where was this random protectiveness coming from? She would have thought he'd be glad to be rid of her.
Dumbledore watched the two of them with undisguised amusement, his eyes twinkling. "You'll both go, then." He announced, as if that had been his intention all along.
Serena sighed. This would be a disaster. "Fine. Let's go, Lupin."
Remus hesitated. This was not what he had been thinking of. He had thought he would go alone, in her place. So he could get away from her, get away from the house. Away from the memories.
***
Hogsmeade. The first weekend of their Seventh year at Hogwarts. The Marauders, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter, wandered the wizarding village carefree and looking for excitement.
Although James was usually the ringleader, he often looked to Sirius for ideas, as he was now.
"My dear Mr. Padfoot. What shall we do today?" He asked, pushing up his glasses unconsciously.
Sirius paused, regarding his friend with a thoughtful frown. "I don't know, Mr. Prongs."
Pudgy Peter, who was lagging behind the group, piped up. "C-can we get something to eat?"
Sirius tossed back his dark hair in a practiced move. "Wormtail, you stupid git. Don't you ever think of anything but food?"
"Leave him alone, Padfoot." Said Remus softly, from his position a step behind Sirius.
"Oy! Mr. Moony speaks. Perhaps he has a plan for today." Sirius turned an expectant gaze on the lanky, tawny haired boy.
Remus thought carefully. He needed a diversion that would please all three of the others. Left to his own devices, he probably would have spent the whole of the day in a bookshop.
He glanced around slowly.
And then he saw it. Ah. Perfect.
"Mr.'s Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail. I believe we'll begin our day with a libation at the Hog's Head." He announced grandly.
James and Sirius crowed with delight. "Excellent choice, Mr. Moony!" They then began tussling to see who would go in first.
"Libation?" Peter whispered. "What's that?"
Remus glanced down at the chubby boy. "Drinks, Peter. And food." He replied nudging Peter to follow the other two boys into the Tavern.
After a morning spent chugging butterbeers, eating truly awful bar food and staring in fascination at the odd patrons of the tavern, the four boys tumbled out into the street. Their exit was precisely timed to cause them to trample, and subsequently knock down the two young women strolling by.
Lily Evans, James' current flame stared up from the ground indignantly. "You idiots!"
Both James and Sirius then proceeded to make a production of helping Lily up, which mainly consisted of hands in inappropriate places and tickling.
Remus turned his attention to the other girl, Serena Renard. Leaning down, he held out his hand.
Serena put her hand in his, and he tugged her easily to her feet.
"Sorry about that." He murmured.
She glanced up at him, blushing. "It's ok."
Lily was giggling uncontrollably. "Get off me, you idiots." She shoved Sirius away, but let James keep his hold.
Remus realized he was still holding Serena's hand and released it abruptly. She backed away.
"Hey, Lily. What are you two up to?" James asked after bussing her on the cheek.
"We're shopping." Lily replied.
James made a face. "Wanna meet up later?"
She slipped out of his grasp. "Maybe." She patted his cheek and started walking away.
Serena flashed a quick smile at Remus, then hurried after her friend.
The four boys stood in a line, watching the girls walk away.
"You are such a goner, mate." Sirius told James with a laugh.
James frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She's got you right where she wants you." Sirius replied before turning and walking away. James followed, arguing that he was not at all whipped. Peter followed them, a smile on his round face. Only Remus remained behind long enough to see Serena gazing back over her shoulder.
***
Serena knew she had to apologize to Remus. Her thoughtless words had hurt him, and she had to make amends for it. When they arrived at the Hog's Head, and he had secured a grimy table near the back and two mugs of butterbeer, she sat across from him.
"Remus," she asked softly, "may I speak with you?"
His hazel eyes flicked up, revealing his irritation. "If you must. I don't really feel much like talking right now."
"Then you can listen. I have something to say to you." She folded her hands on the rough tabletop.
His gaze dropped back to his mug.
So, he wasn't going to make it easy. Fine. She took a deep breath. "Remus, I apologize if what I said last night hurt you. It wasn't my intention."
He didn't respond.
Serena knotted her fingers together. "I saw that you were upset, and I was just trying to help. I feel terrible that I made it worse, somehow."
He sighed heavily. "Don't. I know you meant well."
"So you're not angry with me? Because it seems like you've been trying to ignore me."
"No. I'm not angry with you." More at himself for letting her get to him. "And I haven't been trying to ignore you." Except in the purest sense.
She studied him, her pale eyes troubled. "Well. If you say so."
"I am saying so."
She was silent for a moment. Then she asked softly, "Can I ask you something?"
He looked up, meeting her eyes again. "All right."
"Why would you say that you're not human?"
Remus faced Serena over the table. He had been dreading this. It wasn't that he hadn't come to terms with his affliction.
He had. For the most part. What he hadn't come to terms with was other people's reactions to it.
Would she think him a monster, like so many others?
"If you're staying here, there's something you should know." He said, resigned.
Serena glanced at him. "Sounds ominous."
Was she joking? He couldn't tell. "That depends." He replied.
"On what?"
"On you, I suppose."
She remained silent, looking at him expectantly.
"I'm a werewolf." He blurted out.
She nodded. "And?"
And? "What do you mean, and?" He asked.
"I already knew that you were a werewolf, Remus." She responded calmly.
"What? You knew? How? Did Dumbledore tell you?"
She shook her head. "I've known since Hogwart's. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
All this time, she knew? "And you never said anything?"
"Why would I? It wasn't my place. And it isn't as if we were close enough for it to matter."
Was that regret he heard in her voice? Or was it just wishful thinking on his part?
"It doesn't bother you?"
She shrugged lightly. They might as well have been talking about the weather. "Why would it?"
Why indeed? Just because the wolf part of him made it difficult to suppress his…er… urges around her? Because he could quite possibly turn into a dangerous monster during the full moon?
"Remus, you're a good man. I know you are. You wouldn't hurt anyone." It was as if she read his mind.
A good man. In her mind, did that make up for the fact that he turned into a bloodthirsty beast once a month?
He didn't get a chance to ask.
"Aww, look at the two luvbirds." Mundungus's voice came from behind them.
Serena turned to look at him. "You're late, Dung."
"Don't get yer knickers in a twist, luv. I thought ter give the both of yer a little alone time." He elbowed Remus roughly. "If yer know wot I mean."
Serena smiled thinly. "Dung. If I wanted to be alone with Remus, do you honestly think I would come here, of all places?"
Mundungus looked around him. "Dunno. There's no accountin' fer taste."
"You would know, wouldn't you?" She countered.
He looked stunned for a moment, and then broke into loud guffaws, slapping Remus on the back. "Oy! I like this chicky! She's a corker!"
Remus grimaced. As always, the other wizard reeked of stale alcohol and the horrid smelling cigars he always smoked.
"Where have you been?" He asked Mundungus.
Dung shrugged. "I had to see a guy about… well, a thing."
Probably something illegal. He decided he was better off not knowing. "So what do you have for us?"
Dung glanced around, moving closer and lowering his voice. "Word is Voldemort is plannin' something big. There's been a lot of activity among the Death Eaters. I haven't been able to find out anythin' specific."
Remus pinned the other wizard with a dark look. "That's it?"
Dung shook his head. "No, mate. Wot I was goin to tell Dumbledore is that there was a certain wizard mentioned."
"Who?" Asked Serena.
"Him." Dung responded, jerking a thumb at Remus. "Dunno wot they want yer fer, mate, but they've been lookin fer yer."
Remus knew it had only been a matter of time. The last of the Marauders, he was one of the last links to James and Lily. And to Harry.