Disclaimer: I can't decide which I want more – ownership of Harry Potter or a hot fudge sundae. Chances are I'm not getting either.
A/N: Sorry this chapter too so long, but I had problem after problem with it. Anyhoo, we are nearing the end, ladies and gentleman. This chapter includes my version of the events leading up to Halloween 1981. *sob* Aww, I'll miss Lily and James. But it can't be helped. I'm not too happy with this chapter – I think it sort of jerks along, instead of flowing, but oh well. Too late now. Anyways, thanks for the reviews!
Nolwe the Lady Dragon – Yes, I've always wanted to know what could have made Sirius suspect Remus – I don't think he'd ever do anything to make himself appear to be the spy. Maybe one day we will find out. Until then, we've got to use our own ideas. I'm just glad you liked mine! Thanks muchly!
Lisande – Mwuahahaha. I love being worse. Lol. Is this soon enough for you?Jenna-chan – Yes, sad and cute, an interesting combination. Thanks a lot!
Lunaris –*claps* Yay! You guessed it – although I didn't come out and say it, twas indeed Peter who messed up the spell. I'm glad you liked it – I didn't elaborate on the final section because it was just too complicated, but I think it flowed OK without it. *throws Lunaris a cookie* Thanks bunches!
Ronda-Silverpaw – They certainly are making a mess of things, aren't they? Thanks!
FadingSlowly – I know what you mean – I often wonder why NO ONE suspected Peter. I guess he just seemed too afraid or weak to do something like that, and that's why they didn't think it was him. Whatever the reason, it turned out to be quite a mistake, huh? Thank you!
Akuma Malick – Thanks a lot. Here's your update!
Enjoy!
Before Stone Walls
By: Hawkeye's Seductress
Chapter 6: When First We Practice to Deceive
"Good morning, Sirius," Lily greeted the dark haired man. "Like my costume?" She twirled, showing off the tight black sweater and pants. She had a black tail and black ears on top of her long red hair. "Great," Sirius said. "Let me guess – a cat?" He stepped over the threshold, his dark blue eyes narrowed and his body tense. "What's the matter?" the redhead continued, staring piercingly at him.
Sirius shrugged. "I dunno," he replied. "I'm just…tense about something."
"Remus back yet?"
Sirius ground his teeth. "No," he said, a snarl in his voice. "I wish I bloody well knew where he was going every full moon." Lily smiled sympathetically. "Oh Sirius, you know Remus. If it weren't important, he wouldn't go. And you know he'd tell you if he wanted to."
"How? How do I know that? He never told us he was a werewolf – we had to figure it out on our own! He never told me he loved me – I had to figure it out on my own! I'm sick and tired of him keeping me in the dark about everything. If he really loved me, he'd tell me things!" By the end of his speech, Sirius was pale faced and breathing hard. Lily frowned at him. "Sirius Black, do not tell me that he doesn't love you. You know Remus loves you – how many times as he told you that? But that doesn't mean he has to tell you every time he does something." She poked him in the chest. "Now cheer up. It's Halloween! And I'll have no sour faces in my presence on Halloween."
Little did she know that Halloween would never be a day of celebration again.
The door swung open, and Remus appeared, looking tired, but better than he'd ever looked after a full moon. "Hello, love," he said, hugging Sirius, who remained stiff. "Hi," Sirius replied. Remus arched a fair eyebrow. "Something wrong?" he asked. Sirius shrugged. "Obviously not. I see you've found someone who keeps you alright during the full moon." He stalked down the hall to the living room, flopping on the couch, watching the almost hypnotic swaying of Harry's empty baby swing.
"Oh, is that what this is about?" Remus asked, coming in after him. "Are you jealous because I'm feeling better? Does that upset you?"
"NO!" Sirius shouted, jumping to his feet. "Of course not! It upsets me that you've found someone else to make you feel better, that's what!" His voice dropped to a whisper, and there was a hint of tears in his eyes. "I thought that's what I was for."
"Oh, Siri…" Remus said, reaching out to touch his lover's hand. "I want to tell you, believe me, but I can't – I just can't. Don't look at me like that – Sirius!" But Sirius was gone, having stormed out, fists clenched and tears spilled.
"Remus?"
Lily walked into her living room, baby Harry cradled on her hip. "Re!" the child exclaimed happily, clapping his hands at the sight of his "uncle". He was fifteen months old now, and was talking and walking quite well. Remus smiled, albeit sadly, at the dark haired baby. "Where's Sirius?" Lily continued, shifting Harry, who grabbed a lock of hair and pulled. "OW! No, Harry, let go…"
Remus detached Lily's hair from her son's hands. "He likes hair, doesn't he?"
"Don't change the subject."
Remus sighed. "He left. He's really mad at me, because I won't tell him where I was the past moon." Lily frowned. "Why don't you just tell him?" she suggested. "Tell him you've been experimenting with a potion that helps you with your transformations."
Remus shook his blonde head. "I can't – he'd never understand. Can you imagine telling Sirius that you've been spending the full moons with Severus Snape? He'd do his nut. And that I'm allowing Snape to feed me unauthorized potions? No way. I'm not that stupid. He'd probably lock me in the flat and refuse to let me out."
Lily looked at him warningly. "No good will come of this, Remus," she said softly. "You can't have mistrust in your relationship when the future is so uncertain. Don't let it all end because of suspicion and lies." She smiled. "Now come on. You have to help me plan for the party – where's your costume?"
Remus laughed. "Lily, when was the last time you saw me dress up for Halloween? I don't do Halloween."
"You will this year. I'm not going to have my baby's first Halloween pass by unnoticed."
"Second," Remus corrected. "He was three months old last year, remember?" She swatted his arm. "First Halloween he can remember, then. Now, Mr. Moony, we shall find you a costume."
* * *
"Lily, I look ridiculous," Remus said sometime later, staring down at his conjured costume. "No no no, you look fantastic!" the excited mother replied. Remus arched a dubious eyebrow. "I'm dressed like a ballerina, Lily. I'm bound to look ridiculous," he said dryly, gesturing to his clothes. He was wearing tight black pants and full, billowing white shirt. His shoulder length light brown hair was tied back in a low tail, and he was wearing a black eye mask and a sword belted at his waist.
"You do not! You look absolutely gorgeous. And you're a danseur, not a ballerina. You're a male dancer, and trust me, Sirius is gonna flip when he sees you – you're drop dead sexy!" He flushed. "Really?"
"Look for yourself!" She pushed him towards the full-length mirror, and he gaped at his own reflection. "Wow," he said reverently. "I do look good." Lily laughed. "Egomaniac," she accused, hugging him fiercely. "See? I told you so."
A loud pop signaled the return of James. "Ooh, sexy kitten," he exclaimed, catching sight of his wife. She grinned, and struck a pose, flexing her fingers at him like claws. "Purr," she replied, allowing herself to be swept into his arms. "Check out our resident dancer."
A quick glance at Remus nearly caused James to drop the redhead. "Holy Merlin," he said, staring at his friend, his expression awed. Remus grinned sheepishly back at him. "Wow, Re, you look…well, that is…uh…" he trailed off. Remus burst out laughing. "Thanks for that, James," he said. James returned the grin. "Seriously though…if I wasn't straight as a post, I'd shag you in a second."
This sent Remus into hysterics, and caused Lily to smack her husband's arm playfully. He growled, and pretended to bite her neck. "Rape!" Lily cried. "Oh, who will save me from this lecherous beast?"
Remus drew his sword with a flourish. "Unhand the lady, vile wretch," he intoned formally, touching the point of the sword to James' neck. The other grabbed his wand, transfigured an ornate walking stick hanging on the wall into a matching sword, and crossed the blades. "En guarde!" he shouted, releasing Lily, who pretended to faint. The two men moved about the room, parrying and thrusting, until somehow, James ended up flat on his back, with Remus' foot and sword at his chest and throat.Lily applauded wildly, and Remus bowed, sheathing his sword and helping James to his feet. "I haven't had this much fun in years," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. James nodded. "I know. I don't think we've had this much fun since fourth year - before you became a prefect and ruined all our pranks."
"I did not! Hell, I helped plan half of it!"
"Oh, shut up, the both of you," Lily ordered. "Sirius'll be here any moment, and I haven't even got Harry into his costume yet. Come and help."
"Yes ma'am," both men replied, smirking at each other behind the redhead's back.
It was nearing nine, Sirius had still not arrived, and Remus was frantic. "He should be here by now – we were supposed to start an hour ago!" He ran his hands though his hair, which had come undone. "Oh, this is all my fault, I shouldn't have been so cool to him, I should have told him!"
"Maybe he's gone back to your flat, Remus," James suggested, looking just as worried. Remus nodded. "Maybe. That's the only other place he could be, right?" Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed cloak and shoes, and hurriedly pulled them on. "Look," he said, emerging tousle headed from the neck of his windbreaker. "If you don't hear from me…I mean, I'm sorry to wreck our party like this, but…" he trailed off, twisting his hands. James smiled sympathetically. "Remus, you and Sirius and your safety is more important to s than any stupid party. Go."
Remus smiled gratefully, and then disappeared.
He reappeared with a pop in the bedroom of his and Sirius' flat, but it was empty. The entire apartment was empty. Remus went to bed with a blanket of worry smothering him.
* * *
"NOO!"
Remus jerked upright, chest heaving and mind racing. Oh God, he thought, raising a shaking hand to swipe across his sweat-streaked face. What was that? He had seen Sirius – seen him clear as day. Seen him behind bars, his face gaunt and hollowed, his eyes sunken and condemning. You left me here, the darkened face accused. You loved me. And yet you left me here.
Remus shook his head violently. What did it mean? Left him where? Why was he in jail? But there were no answers, only questions, and there was no comfort in any of it.
"He's not the spy," Remus said out loud. "He's not. He wouldn't betray them. He wouldn't."
And then a knock on the door.
"Mr. Remus Lupin?" the Ministry official asked. Remus nodded. "You must come with me, please. There's been a horrible accident." He nodded again, then hurried to get dressed, tucking his wand into his pocket.
As they Apparated into the front yard of the Potters' house, Remus felt himself shaking. The house – or what was left of it – appeared, and he collapsed. Flames still licked at the rubble, and the chimney still stood, smoking slightly. And in the middle of it all…
"No," Remus whispered, standing and kneeling again beside the sprawled body of James Potter. His friend's eyes were wide and staring, his wand still clutched in his hand. "Prongs," the blonde said softly, tears streaming down his face as he reached out and closed the lids over James' blank hazel eyes. He looked around – this was the remains of the hall. And just a few feet away, in what would have been the dining room…
"Oh, God!" The age-old cry tore from Remus' lips as he stared down at Lily, her red hair streaming out around her pale face like a fiery cloud. Her eyes were open as well, the usual spark in their green depths snuffed out forever. He closed her eyes, letting the tears fall over her lifeless body. But something was missing.
He leapt to his feet, tearing past the bodies of his childhood friends, "Harry – where's Harry?" he shouted at the Ministry official who had brought him here. The man pointed to a small wrapped bundle on the ground, some three feet away. Remus dashed over, scooped up the bundle, and looked down at the sleeping baby within. He had a livid slash across his forehead, shaped like a lightening bolt, and Remus held his breath, fearing the worst. But just then, the child stirred, moaning quietly. "Thank you," Remus gasped to some unknown deity, pressing Harry against his chest.
But the Ministry officer pulled his "nephew" from his arms. "Dumbledore's sent someone to get him," he said brusquely. Remus nodded. "What happened?" he asked, voice hoarse. The officer shrugged. "Looks like their Secret Keeper told You – Know – Who where to find 'em," he said, shaking his head. "Godamned shame. But did you hear? You – Know – Who is gone. This kid somehow reflected the Killing Curse back at him. He's dead!"
Remus turned away, no longer listening. So that's what it was – Avada Kedavra. It made perfect sense – the unmarked bodies, the wide, blank eyes. He shuddered, hating to have to think of Lily and James as bodies.
" – and I don't think we need you here anymore, Mr. Lupin." The officer was talking again. Remus turned and listened. "We just needed someone to ID the bodies. You can go on home now."
As Remus Disapparated, he was sure he caught sight of a huge man, and heard a familiar, guttural voice ask, "Alrigh, where is 'e?"
* * *
Remus set his cup down on the table, picked up the newspaper, and proceeded to douse the front page with tea. "What the – " he gasped, staring at the now soggy paper. People rampaged across the surface, obviously screaming, though there was no sound. A crack split the street down the middle, so deep that the sewer below was visible. And a lone figure stood in front of a pile of bloodstained robes, laughing their head off. The three-inch letter in the headline swam in front of Remus' eyes before he fainted.
"SIRIUS BLACK ARRESTED FOR MURDERS OF POTTERS AND PETER PETTIGREW – BEST FRIEND TURNS OUT TO BE DOUBLE AGENT!"
~TBC~
Uh oh. I'm not sure whether Remus ever showed up at the Potters' after their death – are we ever told that? I don't think so – I've read PoA about twenty times, and I don't remember ever reading anything that suggest he did – or didn't. Anyways, it doesn't matter. There will be one final chapter – not so much of a chapter than an epilogue, cause it won't be as long. And then that will be the end. But not The End. I've already started to write the first chapter for the next story – which will be explained in the epilogue. Stay tuned, and please review!