Disclaimer: Me no own. You got that?
A/N: I hope you guys are finding these chapter long enough – I am trying to keep them a reasonable length, but not too short. This one is about 2500 words – feel free to let me know if you want more. BTW, the little I dealies around the third paragraph means that is should be in italics – its part of his dream. For some reasons, I can't get all of them to show up. Thanks for all the reviews.
FadingSlowly – Nyah nyah, I'm not telling. Maybe there's a twist, maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see!
Nolwe the Lady Dragon – Yes, typical Sirius. He's just so naughty.
Moongirl – Sadly, they will not stay together. I will be following canon in that particular aspect – Sirius will go to Azkaban. *ignoring the puppy eyes from Sirius* I'm sorry! And Lily and James will die as well. *now ignoring puppy eyes from Marauders, Lily, and Harry* Quit it, you guys!
Lisande – Thanks for your comment – I hope you enjoyed the prequel!
Nanja – As I told Moongirl, they will not stay together. I know, it's sad, but it's essential for parts of the story to come. *still ignoring puppy eyes*
Ronda-Silverpaw – Lol. Yes, they certainly do rule, don't they? Thanks a lot.
Akuma Malik – He's not such a good boy – remember that evil trick he played on Snape in sixth year? And he slashed up the Fat Lady in PoA. He's got a bit of a temper. *huggles Sirius* Thanks muchly!
Enjoy!
Before Stone Walls
By: Hawkeye's Seductress
Chapter 2 – Confrontations
Remus woke with a start, as suddenly as though he'd been hit with a blast of ice water. The cold washed over him, setting his teeth to chattering. Pulling on his threadbare robe, he slipped out of the bed. Sirius groaned lightly, before flipping over in one spastic movement. Despite the broken edges of the dream that still clawed at him, Remus smiled. He had always found Sirius to be physical – in every walk of life. Sleeping was no exception. More often than not, Remus woke in the night to find various body parts draped across him. But I really don't mind, he thought, the smile on his face widening.
But as he walked out onto the balcony and sat on the low wall, another shudder passed through his body, and the smile dropped away. This dream – this reoccurring nightmare – it had plagued him ever since Dumbledore had announced the traitor in the Order…
IHe is standing in a park, but something is wrong. The grass is brown and dead, the plants are withered, and the sky is black above him. There is a crack, and in an instant, the dead ground before him is lined with coffins – one after another. He approaches the first. Albus Dumbledore lies inside, dead, his bright blue eyes open and staring. He draws back in horror.I
It is the same with every coffin, row upon row. Each one holds someone dear to him. His parents, aunts and uncles, friends from his early childhood, before the bite. His teachers at Hogwarts, friends he had lived through seven years of school with. Even Severus Snape is there, his death – white face seemingly grinning up at Remus, black eyes wide and blank...
In the last row of coffins, there is a space between the one holding Alice Longbottom, and the remaining five. He tries to stop, for he knows what lies in those coffins. But his feet are relentless, moving him forward. He leans over the first. Lily Potter lies still and white, her vivid green eyes open, as all the others, her dark red hair spread out like a pillow. A baby, dressed in white, green eyes open, is cradled in her arms. James is next, his black hair contrasting with his pale skin, his hazel eyes wide and blank behind his wire-framed glasses. Peter lies in the middle casket, his watery eyes the same as everyone else's.
Remus fights wildly, but his feet still move against his will. They propel him to the fourth coffin, and the dark blue eyes of Sirius Black stare blank and empty into his. Sirius's hands are folded on his chest, as all the others were, but something is wrong. His hands are covered with brilliant red blood, soaking into the fabric of his shirt. Remus pulls away, shutting his eyes. The image of the bloodstained hands of his lover remained in sight, as though burned on his eyelids.
He feels his feet stop, and his eyes open of their own accord. He is at the last coffin. As he peers inside, the sky seems to darken even further. Remus gazed, transfixed, at his own dead body, honey gold eyes caught open. A cross of purest silver lies on his chest, and even as he watches, it burns into his dead flesh.
And he is screaming, staring up at the pitch black sky and screaming.
He shook his head, trying to clear the clear pictures the dream showed him. He had seen…seen Lily and her baby, James, Peter, Dumbledore, countless others. He had seen Sirius. He had seen himself. And they were all dead.
"Remus?"
He turned. Sirius was standing beside him, concern written all over his handsome face. "You ok?" he asked, holding out one hand as though he was going to touch Remus, but stopped. Remus nodded. "Just a dream," he replied, sliding off the wall and into Sirius's ready embrace. But as those strong, fine boned hands touched his back and shoulder, an image burst into his mind.
Folded hands, dripping with warm, wet blood…
He drew in a sharp breath, and his muscles tensed under Sirius's warm touch. "What?" the taller man asked, staring into the widened eyes a few inches from his own. Remus stared a while longer, before blinking a few times. "It's nothing," he said flippantly. "C'mon, it's freezing out here." He led the way back into their bedroom, but not before Sirius noticed the masked suspicion in his eyes – or the fact that tonight was the warmest summer night in Britain in 40 years.
* * *
"Remus? Are you alright? You look terrible." Lily placed her hand on Remus's forehead, causing him to roll his eyes. "You'll be a wonderful mother, Lily, you don't need to practice on me," he assured her, jerking away. Lily smiled, her hands gently caressing her stomach. "I'm due any day now," she said. "And I'm looking forward to it. I'm getting rather tired of carting around this extra weight." Remus laughed. "Thank Merlin I'll never be a mother," he commented, laughing.
The door opened, and in walked James. "Moony! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, putting down his parcels and embracing his friend. "Entertaining your wife," Remus answered. "You leave her alone in this condition?"
James stuck out his tongue. "For your information, Wolfman, I was out buying things for her and the baby." Remus leveled a warning finger at the dark haired father to be. "Don't call me Wolfman," he said ominously. James grinned cheekily. "Why?"
"Cause I'll hex you into oblivion."
"Yeah? You and what army?"
"Oh, will you two just shut up?" Lily snapped, ending the playful banter. Remus and James bowed. "Yes, master" they chorused. She shot them a "drop dead" sort of look, unpacking the bags James had abandoned on the table. "Oh, sweetheart, this is adorable!" she cried, examining a plush dragon at length. James grinned, reached around her, and pressed the dragon's stomach. A surprisingly real roar issued from the toy, and flame shout out of its mouth. Lily screamed and dropped it, causing Remus to smother his snickers.
"James Potter! Do you mean to tell me you bought our child a toy that produces fire?" she demanded. James grinned, shaking his head. "It's not real, it's a charm." He pressed the dragon again, letting the realistic flames wash over his hand. "Illusionary Charm. Pretty basic, but it looks good."
Just then, Sirius waltzed into the house, pausing to kiss Remus flamboyantly on the lips. Both men rolled their eyes as James made gagging sounds and Lily squealed. Sirius kissed her hand. "If you say "how adorable" or "how cute", I'll turn your hair green," he threatened. "And I won't give you the present I got for the baby." Lily smirked. "I would never say cute about anything you've ever done, Sirius," she said sweetly.
"That's it, no present," Sirius exclaimed, placing his free hand on his hip. "Come Remus darling, I simply cannot stand to be in the same room with this woman for one more – hey!" He stared at his now empty hand. Lily had jerked the bag from his grasp during his tirade. "Shut up," Sirius told James, who was laughing.
Lily opened the box, and drew out – a plush dragon. The same one that was sitting on the table next to her. She began to giggle. "Sirius, it's lovely, but…well, just look." She held out both dragons. Sirius turned on James. "You stinker, I told you I was going to buy that!" he said, his grin betraying the angry words. Remus and James were hysterical – James had collapsed into a chair, face red. Lily, who was also laughing, hugged Sirius. "It doesn't matter," she said. "The baby will just be spoiled rotten, with a father and godfather like you two."
* * *
Remus sat alone in the silent apartment, lost in thought. Sirius was gone again – he hadn't returned in two days, and Remus was starting to worry. Worry about what he was doing, where he was. In whose company.
He picked up the letter from Dumbledore again, scanning the words for the hundredth time.
Remus and Sirius,
It is imperative that both of you attend the upcoming meeting. I have received word of a number of ancient spells and charms that may be used as protection for the Potters. Sirius, if you miss one more meeting, I am afraid that you will be questioned publicly by the Order, and may be considered as aiding the infiltrator. I apologize that it is necessary for these matters, but it is crucial that we know exactly where the loyalties of our members lie.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
He threw the letter down in disgust. The meeting was scheduled to take place in less than half an hour, and Sirius was nowhere to be found. If he did not show, he would be interrogated, and possibly suspected of being the spy. Which, Remus scoffed, was rubbish. Sirius was no spy.
Still…his actions did not help to resolve the situation. Leaving for days at a time, never telling anyone where he was going or where he had been, not showing up for Order meetings – these did not seem the actions of an innocent man.
The image from his dream rose to his mind once again. Folded hands, dripping with warm, wet blood. Could this be the blood of those Voldemort had killed? That Sirius had killed? Was his subconscious trying to warn him, inform him that the traitor was none other than the man he loved more than anything else in his world? It didn't seem possible.
The door swung open, and Sirius strolled in. "Hello, love," he greeted.
"It's about bloody time."
Sirius whirled from his position, his head stuck in the fridge, examining the contents. "I love you too," he said blandly, shutting the door and hooking his thumbs into the loops on his jeans.
"Where in hell have you been?" Remus hissed. "You disappear for two days and then just walk in as though you been out to the store? I don't think so, Sirius."
The taller man folded his arms over his chest, readying himself for a fight. "I don't have to tell you everywhere I go, Remus," he said in a voice of controlled calm. "You're not my mother." Remus growled, glaring at his lover. "Do you know that we have a meeting to be at in ten minutes?" he demanded. Sirius shrugged. "I'm here, aren't I?" he said coolly. Remus half groaned, half shouted in frustration, snatching up Dumbledore's letter and thrusting it towards Sirius. "Read this," he snapped.
Sirius scanned the letter quickly, then tossed it aside with contempt. "What does he mean, "questioned publicly"? What am I, a suspect now?" he asked sharply. "You're as good as," Remus retorted. "You're not improving your image by pulling a disappearing act every week!" His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Dumbledore's losing faith in you, Sirius. And I think I am too."
Sirius recoiled as though he had been slapped. "Don't say that, Moony," he said hoarsely. "Don't ever say that. If you ever can't believe in me, if you ever lose faith in me, I'll kill myself." He grabbed Remus's hands, pulling him closer. "Don't be stupid," Remus said softly. Sirius shook his head. "I swear it. I'll throw myself off a bridge if you ever say you don't trust me."
* * *
They walked into Dumbledore's office a few minutes later. Peter, Alastor Moody, the Longbottoms and the Potters were already assembled, but the Headmaster was not in the office. At the sight of Sirius, James jumped up.
"Padfoot, mate, where've you been?" he asked. Sirius shrugged, but was saved from any further explanation by the entrance of the tall, silver haired wizard.
"Ahh, Sirius," Dumbledore said, surveying Sirius, who looked nervous, out of light blue eyes. "I trust you received my letter."
Sirius's lip curled, but he nodded. "I understand, sir," he said, a slight edge to his voice. Remus narrowed his eyes at the dark haired man, who shrugged behind Dumbledore's back as the older man sat at his desk.
"Now then," he said. "Professor Flitwick and I have stumbled across some ancient magic that may help us to protect the Potters. However, it is extremely complicated, and will only work if it is done properly."
"What's the general idea, sir?" James asked.
"It is a complex system of spells that must be placed over both yourselves and the child, when he or she is born. When properly executed, the spells will act as a sort of ward, making your presence and that of the child impossible for Voldemort to sense. It has some of the same properties as invisibility, except that you will be invisible only to those who practice Dark Magic. It is called the Concealious Charm."
James exchanged a look with Lily, who nodded. "It sounds like it has potential, sir," Remus said. "That is what we want to achieve, but the question is can we actually perform the spells?"
"I have utmost confidence in the skills of the people in this room, which is why it will be you six – " he pointed to Sirius, Remus, Peter, Moody, and the two Longbottoms – "and myself who will cast the spells – with assistance from Professor Flitwick if necessary."
"What are the components of the spell, sir?" Sirius asked. Dumbledore took off his half moon glasses, cleaned them briefly on his star strewn robes, and resettled them on his nose. "It has three main sections – three is a magical number. The first section consists of blood from each caster and those on whom the spell will be cast. Essentially, it is to bind them together. Blood magic is very often associated with older forms of magic, although wizards today find it inappropriate. But blood magic has very powerful connections, and spells involving it almost always work, if done properly. Unfortunately, the blood must be procured by a cross of pure silver making the incision."
Remus was plunged into his dream again, watching the silver cross burn into his skin, marking him forever…
"We will work out the details of this in time. The second section is a sacrifice from each of the casters. They must part with something that holds great personal value to them, and place it in a basin of water. Water magic is also used in ancient spells. This sacrifice must prove that the caster is willing to give all he owns for the recipients."
"The final section is heavily based on the truth and sincerity of the casters. They must truly answer a series of questions concerning the recipients. If their answers are found unsatisfactory, the spell will not work." He gazed around the group, his eyes resting on Sirius for a time before returning to Lily and James. "Well, shall we prepare?" he asked them.
Lily nodded. "Let's do it."
~TBC~
Whew. That spell is so complicated. In case you're wondering, it is of my own invention – but you'll notice that there is a twist later. Something goes wrong, but I'm not saying what – at least until next chapter. Please review!