Remus
The Shrieking Shack was just as he remembered it. In the two years since his last visit things had fallen slightly further into disrepair and the carpet of dust was thicker but otherwise it remained the same as the night when Sirius and Peter had returned. He wasn't sure why he'd insisted on coming here instead of renting a room inside the Three Broomsticks just that it seemed safer: there would be no one listening in here and the Shack had served him well before even if almost all of his memories of this place were filled with pain.
Dumbledore's wand flicked and the dust vanished; Remus shot a questioning look at him as the Headmaster seated himself in one of the dilapidated chairs. "It will return when we leave," Dumbledore assured him. "Nobody will know this meeting ever took place except those present here today. Jonathan if you would be so kind as to place the silencing spells; I fear I do not have the energy to do it myself."
Remus raised an eyebrow but lowered it as he caught sight of Severus doing the same. A slight smile flickered over Dumbledore's face but vanished almost immediately.
"It is done," August announced, sweeping back from the doorway and sitting down opposite the Headmaster. Dumbledore nodded his thanks. "Our time is brief," he said seriously, "I will be missed if I stay longer than an hour here and while I would hope that there is no one on my staff I cannot trust I cannot be sure of that so we must proceed with haste. Severus, if you would give Remus the potions."
With a smile that looked like it was causing him physical pain Severus Snape removed three small vials, two black and one deep red, from the folds of his robes and passed them to Remus with swift, jerky movements. "It took me several months to devise and brew this," he informed Remus tightly. "Please try not to waste it."
"I'll certainly try Severus," Remus replied lightly. "Believe it or not I'd rather like not to be horribly murdered actually."
Snape glared at him as if he did not believe that even this incentive would stop Remus wasting his time given the chance. Remus forced himself to smile politely. "I take it the red one is veritaserum itself."
"It is."
"I suggested you might like to test the potion for yourself before embarking into the Lion's den," Dumbledore remarked mildly from somewhere behind him.
"What? Oh, yes of course."
They were all watching him now. Remus deposited the red and one of the black vials in his pocket where they made a soft clinking sound and uncorked the other one; the stuff inside smelt acidic and slightly poisonous. He caught the pungent smell of armadillo bile and hellebore as he raised it to his lips. Hellebore was defiantly poisonous, wasn't it? He distinctly remembered that from potions. However, it seemed unlikely that Severus would be trying to kill him and even more unlikely that if he were to do so, he would do it in front of Albus Dumbledore.
Remus drank.
Nothing happened but perhaps that was what was supposed to happen. He opened the veritaserum which of course, smelt of nothing. He was even more wary of this potion; the truth was something he had hidden from for as long as he could remember but if he could help the Order this way-
He swallowed and looked at Severus who was advancing on him. "Now what?"
"You have approximately five minutes before the veritaserum rebels against the potion," Snape informed him. "This means that during this time you should be able to lie to the Dark Lord if he questions you using it."
"And if he questions me for more than five minutes?" Remus asked, wishing he hadn't.
"Then the Dark Lord will certainly kill you and the world will be rid of one more werewolf," Snape replied, silkily.
"Sounds delightful; what a shame you couldn't volunteer for this mission yourself, Severus."
"Isn't it just," Snape smiled; Remus glared and Dumbledore rose to his feet. "This is not helping; we have enough to contend with without fighting among ourselves. Remus, what colour are your eyes?"
"Blue," Remus lied and was surprised to find it was possible.
"Good," Dumbledore declared, then with a smile. "What are you feelings on Albus Dumbledore?"
He had prepared this answer and it rolled easily off his tongue like the truth. "He was a great man, but that was a long time ago. In the last few years it's been increasingly obvious that he's becoming senile and I will not work with someone I cannot respect." He glowered at Snape.
"Your feelings on Jonathan August?"
Remus looked across at the dark man. "I barely know him."
"Your feelings on Severus Snape," August rumbled, wearing the first smile Remus had ever seen on his face; apparently August had a sense of humour.
"Wonderful person," Remus grinned back, knowing the lie would irritate Severus almost as much as the truth. "We should have been nicer to him at school because he's a really nice man once you get to know him."
"Good," Dumbledore said, smiling. "And your feelings on Lord Voldemort?"
"I hate him," Remus said truthfully, having decided earlier that Voldemort would probably pick up on his unexpected vow of total adoration and allegiance. "He's killed almost everyone I love; however, I am willing to serve him."
"And why is that?" Dumbledore asked; the smile had vanished.
"Because he's killed everyone I love," Remus said simply. "I don't have any reason to continue living this way and I've heard that he can cure lycanthropy; I will serve him in return for this cure."
"Are you a Member of the Order of the Phoenix?"
"Yes, I am,"
"And are you loyal to that Order?"
"…I was once."
"You don't sound convinced enough," Dumbledore told him, frowning slightly and thinking. "The words on their own should be enough, after all you're confessing under veritaserum but if you really were a potential Death Eater you'd be resentful and alive with religious fervour… Mind you, Voldemort must certainly know of you and I believe you've faced each other-"
"Twice," Remus replied then the word caught in his mouth as the five minute interval elapsed. "Three times," he answered, tightly, the words felt like they were being pushed out of his mouth, as if someone were strangling him until he told the truth. "The last time was this summer when Sirius fell."
"And what are your feelings on Sirius Black exactly?" Snape asked, from the shadows, a smile twisting his face.
"I-"
No. He didn't want to tell Snape this.
"That's enough Severus," Dumbledore said sharply. "Remus, what colour are your eyes?"
"Brown," Remus answered, with relief. However, he could still feel the question Snape had asked bubbling just below the surface.
"And you are loyal to the Order of the Phoenix."
"Of course; they're the only family I have left."
"And your real feelings on Severus Snape?" August asked, rising to his feet.
"We should have been nicer to him at school," Remus replied truthfully, "because then he might not have turned out to be the world's biggest git." He smiled politely at Snape who was scowling in a corner. August laughed and the corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. "I know I shouldn't need to ask this," he said, smiling, "but for the record Remus: what are you feelings on Albus Dumbledore?"
The werewolf laughed. "He's the best person I know and someone I love and respect enormously."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Thank you Remus."
"You're very welcome."
"The veritaserum will wear off in approximately an hour's time," Snape interrupted disdainfully. "I suggest, Lupin, that you remove yourself from company until that time."
Remus nodded, not trusting his speech.
"You know when and where you're supposed to be meeting with DeGraaf?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"Yes."
The old man extended a hand and Remus shook it. "Good luck."
"Thanks, I'm going to need it." He smiled but Dumbledore did not.
"Don't throw you're life away Remus," he said softly. "He may be dead but the battle remains to be fought."
He squeezed the younger man's hand, gave an odd, uncharacteristic half smile and followed the other two from the room. Remus sank into the chair the Headmaster had just vacated. A large amount of dust materialised from the air and covered the floor, the furniture and Remus like fine, grey snow. Remus sighed.