Disclaimer: Come on, you know this by now.
Ok, so since you guys were so nice and reviewed me so quickly, here's chapter eleven.
Couple of notes…
ElsalhirErestar – you will find out more about the birthmark later… eventually.
Lucky star – what do you think Wormtail is up to? J
Ashliegh – wow. Lots of reviews. I'm glad you like my Remus. Mundungus was fun. Tonks is fun too. Reminds me of someone I know.
Chapter Eleven
The weeks following the full moon passed without incident. Remus would spend his nights with her, but by the light of day, he kept his distance. Always polite and gentle, he remained oddly aloof from her. It was only in the dark of night when he lay beside her, that he let her in.
But only so much. Serena knew he cared for her, that much was obvious. She could feel it in his touch, see it in his eyes, but he never said the words.
She had the inclination to think that he was trying to protect her. From what she had no idea.
No one had been able to find out any more about why Voldemort wanted Remus, and Serena was becoming anxious.
Remus was growing restless, his unease translating into a feeling of confinement. The closer it grew to the full moon, the edgier he became.
On the day of the full moon, he was prowling the house, listless, and snarling at anyone who spoke to him.
When Mundungus arrived, surrounded as usual with a cloud of noxious smoke, Remus cornered him in the hall.
"Have you found anything out?" He demanded.
Dung shrugged, his eyes darting around nervously. Being confronted by a twitchy werewolf was obviously not his idea of fun.
"All I got is there's a meetin' tonight."
Tonight. "For what purpose?" Remus asked.
Dung shook his head. "Dunno, mate."
"We need to find out what's going on." Remus said bleakly.
"I agree." Dumbledore announced as he came through the front door. "We're going to have to send someone in."
Remus turned to face the older wizard. "I'll go."
Dumbledore shook his head. "Not tonight you won't, Remus."
Remus let out a frustrated growl.
"I'll go." Serena announced from her position at the top of the stairs. She could feel Remus' eyes on her as she descended.
"It's too dangerous." He said when she reached his side.
She smiled and patted his arm. "Don't worry, love. They won't even see me." As a fox, she would blend into the shadows well enough.
Remus started to protest again, but Serena silenced him with a look. "I can handle myself, Remus."
Dumbledore nodded. "I agree with Serena. The last thing they would expect is an animagus."
Dung turned a shrewd look on Serena. "Animagus, huh?"
Serena just smiled.
Within minutes, Dung had given her all the information he had on the location of the meeting. Remus continued to argue against her going, but his arguments were only met with silence.
When Serena stepped outside to apparate to the meeting place, Remus followed her.
"I don't want you doing this." He told her.
She shook her head at him. "I'm the only one who can."
"What are you trying to prove?" He accused harshly.
In one of her rare shows of temper, Serena turned on him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Maybe I'm trying to show you that I'm good for more than just warming your bed."
Then with a loud crack, she disapparated, leaving Remus standing alone.
***
Hours later, Remus prowled the confines of the drawing room restlessly. "Where is she?" He muttered. "She should have been back by now."
Molly sat on a sagging armchair nearby, her enchanted knitting needles flashing in front of her, her hands folded in her lap. "I'm sure she's fine, Remus. Don't fret."
He shot her a dark look and continued pacing, mumbling under his breath about stubborn fool women with something to prove.
When the fireplace erupted in green flames with a whoosh, both Remus and Molly turned to it expectantly. But instead of Serena, it was Dumbledore who emerged from the fire.
His face was somber as he faced them.
Remus had a sudden feeling of dread. "What is it?" He demanded. "What's happened?"
Tonks and Moody arrived at the drawing room door that same moment, having heard the fire.
"What's going on?" Tonks asked.
Dumbledore held out a piece of parchment. "This arrived at the school. It was delivered by a black owl." They all knew that black owls delivered messages from Voldemort's followers.
Remus snatched the paper from the headmaster's outstretched hand and read it out loud.
"Tell the Werewolf to be at 616 Knock Turn Alley at sundown, or his mate will die."
The letter fluttered out of Remus' suddenly lax hand. "They have Serena." He whispered.
Dumbledore nodded.
"You know it's a trap, Remus." Tonks said gently.
Hands fisted at his sides, Remus began to pace again, his movements jerky. He went to the window, pulling the heavy drapes back far enough to see the sun hanging low in the sky.
"There's not much time." He said. "It's a full moon tonight. They want me to transform there."
"Why would they want that?" Molly asked quietly.
Dumbledore glanced at her, and then focused his attention on Remus. "The blood that flows through a werewolf's veins has certain magical properties. I presume Voldemort wants you for that."
His blood, Remus thought. They would kill Serena for his blood. That same blood began to boil.
"If they want me, they'll have me." He snarled, lunging for the container of floo powder on the mantle. Flinging a handful into the fireplace, he leapt into the green flames.
"Knock Turn Alley!" He shouted. He disappeared in a flash of fire before anyone could stop him.