Disclaimer: I do own Harry Potter! *lawsuit appears* Ahh! I'm kidding! I don't! The chapter title does not belong to me either – it's from a very famous quote made by Sir Walter Scott. Although I'm sure he doesn't mind me using it – he's a bit dead to care.

A/N: Boy, you guys are lucky – two chapter in two days! This one isn't quite as long, but it's still a respectable length, I think. Thanks for the reviews!

Nolwe the Lady Dragon – Thanks for the comment about the spell – but it kinda funny, because – oh, well I'm not gonna tell you. You'll find out when you read the chapter. As for what Remus saw outside – well, that'll be explained later. Don't you just love ambiguous comments?

Akuma Malik – Another comment about the spell. I didn't think it was that great – it's pretty simple. But who am I to argue? Thanks!

Lisande – Aww, but torturing my readers is fun too! And I happen to think this chapter's end is even worse than the other one. Hehehe…

Ronda-Silverpaw – Well, that depends. If you think mysterious figures creeping around at the dead of night are normal, then I guess it's a good thing. Personally, I thought it was pretty bad. Thanks a lot!

Enjoy!

Before Stone Walls

By: Hawkeye's Seductress

Chapter 5 – What a Tangled Web We Weave

"Who the hell was that?" Sirius demanded, releasing Remus and peering through the window, hoping to catch another glimpse of the mysterious figure. "I don't know – who would go against Dumbledore like that? He said we weren't to leave Hogwarts!" Remus replied. A horrible realization struck him, and the little colour drained from his face. "Sirius – what if the spy is one of us? One of the people casting the spell?!"

Sirius scoffed. "I think Dumbledore would realize if there was a spy casting the spell," he said. "Maybe not," Remus interjected. "I'm sure it was just one of the students out on a midnight escapade," Sirius continued. "Reminds me of four young men with a sliver Cloak…and then a wolf, a dog, a rat, and a stag." His breath washed over Remus' face, and he shivered, the delicious chill creeping up his spine. "Don't worry about it." He tugged the werewolf towards the bed. "Come on. Time to sleep."

But even as Sirius wrapped his strong arms around Remus' waist, the blonde could not shake the odd feelings from his mind. Who was that figure – and why were they sneaking about the castle grounds so late at night. Remus fell into an uneasy sleep plagued with dreams of shadowy creatures with Sirius' eyes burning from their depths.

They woke the next morning to a sun filled room. The birds twittered outside, and there was a gentle knock on the door. "We are meeting in my office in ten minutes, gentlemen," Dumbledore's voice floated through the room. Sirius groaned a confirmation, and then flipped over, burrowing in closer to Remus. "Mmmm…time to get up," the younger wizard said, leaning over and biting the ear of his raven-haired companion.

"Fuck you," came the reply. Remus grinned into the pillow. "I'd love that, but we've got to finish the spell." Sirius groaned loudly, exasperated. "When the hell is a guy supposed to have the time to bang his werewolf into the mattress with all this stupid magic going on?" he half shouted, getting up and searching for a shirt. Remus burst out laughing. "We did that yesterday," he answered. Sirius shook his head, newly emerged from the neck of his T-shirt. "No no, that doesn't count. That was outside, and I had a leaf stuck to my arse. I said mattress."

Remus was hysterical. "I dare you to tell that to Dumbledore, I dare you!" he gasped. Sirius grinned, a wicked light flickering in his dark blue eyes. "OK!" he agreed cheerfully. Remus stopped laughing as Sirius rose to his feet, preparing to walk out the door. "Sirius – if you do!" he managed, reaching out and snagging the back of the shirt – which was no easy task, seeing as it was tight enough to show off his lover's rock hard abs. He dragged the brunette back to the bed.

"Then let me pound your delectable bottom into the mattress!" Sirius exclaimed. Remus shook his head. "No," he said. "We've got to get down there. And besides, who says you'd be the one on top? I'm the alpha male here – I'm in charge." Sirius grinned. "Is that a challenge?"

Two flushed, giggling men stumbled into the office a short while later, breathing hard and laughing harder.

"Si…Siri…quit…quit it!" Remus gasped, swatting away the taller man's hands as they flashed about his body, tickling him mercilessly. He collapsed on the floor, and Sirius pounced, his hands finally ceasing as he splayed across his lover. Trying desperately to catch his breath, Remus looked around. "Hey, where…where is everyone?"

as though answering his question, the faint (to Remus) forms o Lily and James walked in, baby Harry cradled in his mother's arms. "My God, you two are insatiable," James said, while Lily beamed at the pair on the floor.

Remus had the decency to blush, but Sirius merely shrugged, rising gracefully to his feet and sweeping his godson from Lily. "Hello, Harry – God, he's getting big! You're gonna be a big troublemaker, aren't – OW! James, get your blasted baby's fingers out of my hair!"

Grinning, Harry's father detangled his son's tiny hands from Sirius' dark hair. Remus and Lily were laughing uproariously. "Well, you said he'd be a troublemaker, Sirius," Remus said, grinning brightly at his boyfriend. "He certainly seems to be headed that way!"

"Oww…" Sirius moaned, rubbing the top of his dark head. "Stupid kid." James mock punched him. "I'll thank you not to call my kid stupid," he said.

Sirius leaned over to pull Remus to his feet as the rest of the group filed into the office. Dumbledore swept in after them, blue robes swishing about. "The third and final part of the Concealious Charm is ready," he said, after everyone had settled themselves. "You will go, one at a time, into a room. you will find a series of questions awaiting you. Answer them to the best of your ability. After everyone has answered the questions, the spell will be complete." He nodded to Moody, who stood and stumped out through an adjoining door that Remus swore was not there before.

Finally, Dumbledore returned from the room, the last to answer the questions. He sat behind his desk, eyes surveying them all. Remus waited, watching what he could see of the Potters, waiting for the blankness that should replace them as the Charm placed it's final hold on them.

Suddenly, there was a loud Crack, and the Potters burst violently back into Remus' vision, clear as day. His mind reeled at the unexpected brightness, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he knew no more.

"Remus? Re? Come on, Re, wake up." The familiar voice echoed in Remus' ears as he fought to clear the fuzziness swimming before his eyes. Slowly, painfully, Sirius floated into view, looking pale and frightened as he knelt above his lover. Remus realized dimly that he was on the floor – he must have fallen off his chair. He tried to sit up, but a blinding pain shot through his head, and he grabbed it, closing his eyes again. He felt Sirius holding him, and he went limp in the touch, willing the stabbing pain to go away.

Oh, God, he thought. What the hell happened? His eyes were tearing behind their closed lids, as the pain throbbed in his temples. He whimpered slightly, and Sirius' embrace tightened around him. "Stay with me, Remus, stay with me," Sirius urged, cradling the half conscious werewolf in his arms. Remus shivered – he was so cold. He could barely feel the warmth he knew radiated from Sirius, and his teeth were chattering.

"Someone give me a cloak or something," he heard Sirius order, and soon, a scratchy, but welcome covering was wrapped around him, as well as Sirius' arms. Remus tried vainly to hear the conversation going on above him.

"What happened, sir?" That was Sirius – he could feel the low hum of his voice vibrating through his body.

"The spell has not succeeded. Something has gone wrong, and Remus' senses were overwhelmed by the suddenness of the Potter's return," Dumbledore said. The tension was audible in his voice.

"So now what?" James. His voice was also laced with apprehension and worry – what would become of his family now?

"I do not know," Dumbledore said. "Sirius, take Remus back to your rooms. He will need rest – I may send Madam Pomfrey up to check on him later."

"Right." Remus felt himself lifted in strong arms, and the soft, rhythmic motion of walking lulled his weakened mind into sleep.

He woke some time later, semi conscious of a feather light touch on his hair. He opened his eyes, and he was assaulted by a rush of colour and light. He inhaled sharply, and he felt someone stir beside him. "Re?" Sirius' voice was loud in his ears, and he winced, closing his eyes again. "Don't shout," he said feebly. A gentle hand grasped his own. "I'm sorry," Sirius apologized, his whisper sounding like his regular voice in Remus' heightened state of awareness. "What happened?" he asked.

"The spell didn't work," Sirius said softly. "Something didn't work, and the whole thing was undone. That's why Lily and James and Harry appeared again so forcefully. It overwhelmed your brain, and because you're a werewolf, and you've already got more powerful senses, it sort of blew a fuse in your head. You're functioning in a really strong alertness – that's why everything is so loud and bright."

"How long is this going to stay with me?"

"Dumbledore said he doesn't know. He said probably about three days. Right now, he's with everyone else, trying to figure out what happens now." Sirius' voice was dull, void of emotion. "We're back where we started – and meanwhile, the spy is still passing information along to that slime Voldemort."

Remus tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy. He felt strange – the silk sheets he was lying on felt rough beneath his fingers, and he could smell Sirius' scent very strongly – the essence of evergreen and vanilla. He inhaled, loving the odour that was Sirius.

He tried again to move, and his body responded. He could feel the air rushing against his skin as he raised a hand, coming into contact with Sirius' face. his skin was smooth under the sensitive touch, and an idea pricked in the back of his still hazy mind. Slipping his fingers through Sirius' satin smooth hair, he pulled his lover's head down to allow their lips to meet.

The resulting touch was electric. Never had a kiss seemed so alive, and Remus reveled in things he'd once thought so mundane – the slickness of lips, the rough edge of teeth, the velvet texture of a probing tongue. Never again would Remus Lupin take a kiss for granted.

They pulled away, both trying to catch their breath. "Siri, that was amazing," Remus gasped, his own breathing loud in his ears. "Yeah," Sirius agreed. Even though he did not have the heightened senses like those of a werewolf, the kiss had seemed vibrant and real.

Remus reached for Sirius again, bringing their bodies together. They snuggled close, the warmth from each other soothing them into sleep.

After four days, Remus' senses had returned to normal – or as normal as they ever were, considering his lupine influences – and the group had found another way to protect the Potters.

"This spell is called the Fidelius Charm," Dumbledore announced. "It is the concealment of a secret inside a living person, called a Secret Keeper. Unless the Secret Keeper divulges the secret, the information cannot be discovered. It is our intention to place the location of the Potters' home with a Secret Keeper. This will ensure that Voldemort cannot find them. This spell is even more complex than the Concealious Charm, but luckily, Professor Flitwick has kindly condescended to perform it."

He turned to Lily and James. "It will be necessary for you to choose a Secret Keeper. It must be someone you trust entirely. I cannot choose for you, but I would be happy to serve in this role if you desire." 

Lily and James exchanged a look. "That's wonderful of you, sir," Lily said, with a tentative smile at the older man. "But I think that we will be using Sirius. He would rather die than reveal us, and he and Remus can go into hiding themselves, if necessary." Dumbledore shot Sirius a questioning glance, and he nodded. "Very well," the silver haired wizard said. "Sirius, you will need to pay a visit to Professor Flitwick."

Sirius returned to the room an hour later, looking tired and wan. "Whew," he said, collapsing on the bed. "That's some spell. I didn't even have much to do and it completely tired me out."

"Mmhmm," Remus agreed vaguely. Sirius glanced at him. "What's with you?"

"Sirius, isn't it obvious?" Remus exclaimed. "The spy is one of us. It's got to be. Why else would the spell not have worked?" Sirius shook his head. "I can't believe that, Re," he said. "I don't think that any of us would betray Lily and James."

Remus turned to face him, and there were tears in his amber eyes. "I wish I had your confidence."

Sirius stared out at the full moon that hung in the sky. It was the first time he and Remus had been apart for a full moon since fifth year, and it was strange to not be running with Moony, he and Padfoot feeling the earth beneath their paws, touching noses from time to time, and curling up together, exhausted but content, at the coming of morning. He hated to think of his lover going through the transformation alone, but it was at Remus' insistence. He had "somewhere to be", as he'd said, and he'd forbidden Sirius to come along.

A thought sprang unbidden into Sirius' mind – why had Remus flushed when asked where he was going? Could he be the spy?

Hell no, Sirius scoffed. What the hell am I thinking? Remus would never betray Lily and James – he loves them. But then why would he not tell me where he was headed?

He shook himself. "You're being stupid," he said aloud. But…

 Maybe it's for the best that Remus thinks I'm the Secret Keeper…

These dark thoughts came fast and furious, and Sirius did not sleep that night.

~TBC~

Oh dear. Remus has disappeared – and I'm not telling where he's gone! Haha! And now Sirius thinks he's the spy – what a mess. Next chapter – Halloween! Say goodbye to Lily and James! *sobs* Please review!