Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters of the books. They were created by and belong to J.K. Rowling.
It was a brisk, October morning, late in the afternoon. All was well in the world, all was peaceful, all was right.
And yet, something was not right. One man shot straight up in his bed, sweating profusely, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Something was wrong.
When Remus Lupin first awoke, he felt decidedly odd. He rolled out of bed, his ears pricked. Yes… something was wrong.
Remus went to straight to his Muggle telephone – he still didn't know why he had it, but Lily insisted that they all get one – and dialed Lily and James's number.
They didn't pick up.
Remus frowned. "That's not like Lily," he remarked. "It's not even like James." He allowed the phone to ring several more times, before slamming the phone down – as he had often heard Muggles do when they're frustrated.
He stared at the phone several moments, and then angrily reached for his cloak, not understand his anger. And just as he readied himself to apparate, a knock came on his door to his flat. He turned.
The knocking grew louder and faster, more desperate. Crossing the room quickly, he yanked the door open, and a man that he had long-hated glared at him. "Finally decided to answer, Lupin?" Snape snapped.
Remus regarded him coldly, thinly veiling his curiosity. "What are you doing here, Sna- Severus?"
"Perhaps," Snape whispered delicately, his voice harsh, "you ought to read the Morning Prophet for yourself and see." He stuffed it in Remus's hands.
Remus glanced at it, and a heard a roaring in his ears as his stomach dropped to the lowest point it had ever been. His eyes scanned the front-page headlines hurriedly, his mind scarcely comprehending and believing.
Dark Lord Vanquished – Young Harry Potter Saves the Word from You-Know-Who But at a Terrible Price
Late last night, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was discovered to have gone to Lily and James Potter's house in Godric's Hollow, apparently to kill the Potters and their young son, Harry. Fortunately, it seemed that You-Know-Who would meet his demise there, at the hands of the one-year-old son of the Potters. But only at a horrible cost.
Trained Medi-Wizards, Hit Wizards, and Ministry Experts from the Department of Magical Catastrophes arrived at the scene of their house at Godric's Hollow. The house was still handing, although the door had been blasted off its hinges.
The first thing the Ministry wizards and witches found was the dead body of James Potter, although they could not recover his glasses…
Remus could not read anymore. His eyes blurred, and he glanced up to see Snape watching him without emotion. "Don't you feel anything?" he demanded desperately. "Aren't you sad at all for their deaths?"
Snape looked at him without pity, and shrugged. "I never liked Potter much," he finally admitted.
Remus wanted to choke him, strangle him, hurt him, do something to him. But he just stood there in disbelief, and finally shouted, "He saved your bloody life! And you never gave him reason to, but he did it anyway!"
"Perhaps you never heard what he said afterwards," Snape said coldly. "He called me a bastard, and then told me that I was not worth saving. And then he added that the only reason he had done it was to impress Lily, but it didn't seem to have worked, and anyway, he would have done it for anyone. Therefore, I never liked him."
"First of all, you are a bastard. And second, James would never mean something like that!"
"Perhaps you only say that because he has never spoken to you that way," Snape said, and sneered at him. "I am not here to offer my condolences or my sympathies, werewolf. I am here because… well, I suggest you first read the other headline article." He pointed at it, leering without any real emotion at all – as if he couldn't force himself to take pleasure in Remus's pain.
Remus looked at it, and again his stomach dropped.
Secret-Keeper Sirius Black Cornered in a Muggle Street – Kills Thirteen People, Including One-Time Friend, Peter Pettigrew
Remus didn't even read anymore. Sirius… no… there was no possible way that Sirius had done that…
And Peter… dead…
"There must be some mistake," he said faintly.
"I assure you," Snape said coolly. "It's no mistake." He scowled. "I am not going to sit and watch you snivel like this, Lupin. Either come with me, or don't."
"Come… where?"
Snape looked irritated. "To the Headmaster's office, you fool!"
Feeling left with no other choice, Remus wordlessly followed Snape. Once they were out in the corridor and Remus had locked his flat, they apparated to as a close a spot as they could get to Hogwarts.
X-X-X-X-X
"I am sorry, Remus," Dumbledore said, his voice heavy with sorrow as he gazed at the young man before him. "It is hard for all of us to accept, I understand."
For Remus had his face in his hands. He wasn't crying – no, he was rather in mute shock and horror. Seeing it in the Daily Prophet and hearing it from Snape wasn't enough. But once he heard it from Dumbledore, it made it absolute, final.
Lily and James Potter were dead.
Peter Pettigrew was dead.
Sirius Black was a convicted murderer, and in Azkaban.
And Harry… Harry was famous, now. Barely a year old, and famous.
It gave Remus a surreal feeling. It couldn't be happening… no, it was all so sudden…
"Remus?" the Headmaster asked gently. "Perhaps it's best if you go home, now. You look like you need some rest. And I know the Full Moon is coming up soon, is it not? Less than two weeks, I believe."
Remus didn't reply. Instead, he stared at his old Headmaster for long moments, and finally burst out, "Can I see him?"
"See who?"
"Sirius. Can I see him?"
Dumbledore shifted. "It may not be wise, Remus. You may not want to…"
Remus cut him short. "I want to."
"Well, then I cannot stop you. I will inform the Authorities at Azkaban that you will be arriving shortly. Would you like me to escort you off the grounds?"
"No," Remus said curtly. He knew he was being rude, but that was not his main focus just then. "Thank you, Headmaster," he added, just for politeness' sake. He nodded, and left the office.
X-X-X-X-X
A/N: Well, that's it! Please Review, and tell me what you think, and if I should continue. Luv ya! ~Peaches
