Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. *smacks greedy lawyer hands away from chapter two* I said DON'T!
A/N: Hiya. That was a bit of a long wait, I'm sorry, and this chapter isn't even all that long, so it won't do much to pacify you. But that's ok – some update is better than no update, I always say. Alright, so I never say that. But who's counting? Just a quick note – there are some events in this chapter that may not make too much sense if you haven't read the other two in the series. My advice – go read them, then come back here. And yes, that WAS a shameless plug. Here are the review replies!
mystic-angel5 – Yeah, I never really thought he was asleep. Seems the thing he would do – stay quiet and unobtrusive, but still be there. Thanks!
Ashuri chan – You've read the prequels? Wow – don't I feel special!
Lisande – *blushes* Oh, this really did brighten my day. Thanks a bunch!
Lunaris – Don't cry too much – I can't afford more tissues. Sorry about the whole pre PoA exclusion thing – maybe I'll work in some flashbacks – just for you!
Lizzie24 – Yeah, the dog thing is WAAAAY overdone. Thanks!
Ronda-Silverpaw – *puts confetti back in baggie* ok, we have an understanding. I update, and you don't eat my party favours.
Nolwe the Lady Dragon – Yay, you're back! *waves flag with NtLD on it* I haven't checked out "Sleeping Beauty" yet – I've been excruciatingly busy. But I'll get around to it. In the meantime, thanks a lot!
Rowenna7 – Well, ok then. Don't brighten my day. As long as you review. Thanx!
Icelightening – Actually, I've always found Remus very easy to write for – he and I are a lot alike. My "Which Marauder Are You?" results atone to that. Thanks!
Beyond Broken Friendships
By: Moonlit Seductress (a.k.a Hawkeye's Seductress)
Chapter 2: Within These Castle Walls
Remus woke with a start as his alarm clock pealed, sending its violently loud message across the room. Feeling around for his wand, on the bedside table, Remus muttered a sleepy Silencing Charm, and curled up again, only to jerk fully into consciousness. "Drat," he said, a yawn nearly splitting his head in two. He had left himself only an hour to prepare for his first lesson. He rose and dressed quickly, then sat at the desk to scan his notes from the previous day. Lockhart, he realized, had taught nothing but the art of narcissism, so all the students would need a review on the basic skills. He shuffled through his case, pulling out his sixth year notes on hexes and jinxes, and looked them over, highlighting particular pieces he could use in the lesson. After some time, he looked at the still Silenced clock, and noticed that it was time for him to head for the classroom. His classroom.
He stepped into the familiar old room, his sharp eyes picking out the cluster of four desks he and his friends had shared. Shaking his head free of memories and regrets, he set his case on the desk and removed his newly laid lesson plan, transferring the neat script to the blackboard behind him. The bell rang out in the hall, and the memorable sounds of hundreds of footsteps echoed through the stone halls, and his own mind. How many times had he walked these floors? How much of his life had been spent in this great fortress. How many recollections had been formed and forgotten, how many promises made and broken, how many friendships fashioned and destroyed.
The sixth years sat at their desks, placing their books, parchment, and quills on the surfaces and looking up at him expectantly. Clearing his throat, he put on a slight smile and began his first lesson.
* * *
Glancing at the next class on his timetable, Remus felt a jolt of apprehension. Third year, the schedule read. Harry's class. The older man was eager to see how his best friend's son performed in class. How similar he was to his father…
He looked quickly at his watch, then slipped out of the classroom, and hurried down to the staff room. It was empty, save for Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris. The scraggly creature hissed at Remus – she knew what he was. Suppressing the urge to growl in response, he opened the door of the wardrobe.
There was a loud crack! and Remus was suddenly faced with a tawny canine, bearing its dripping teeth and snarling. It watched him out of amber eyes as he stepped back in surprise. "Hang on," he said aloud. "You're wrong. I'm over this fear." But the wolf continued to advance, creeping steadily closer and closer. Angry now, Remus jerked out his wand. "Riddikulus!" he shouted. Crack! The wolf disappeared…
…and Remus found himself face to face with Sirius Black.
But not the Sirius he saw in the papers, on the news. No, this Sirius was fresh faced and handsome, his dark hair falling into his blue eyes. Eyes that burned with accusations and incomprehension. "Why?" the Sirius – Boggart asked, voice echoing slightly. "Why did you leave me to rot in Azkaban, Remus?"
Remus choked. "Siri, I – NO!" He stabbed his wand at Sirius, once again shouting "Riddikulus!" Another crack!, and the full moon glittered above him, in all her hated majesty. Pale and breathing hard, Remus shoved the silvery orb back into the wardrobe, slamming the door shut and falling against it, one shaking hand wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What in seven hells was that about?" he asked aloud, to no one in particular.
It was a few more minutes before he could put on a smile and walk into the classroom, full of chattering teenagers. He moved to the front of the room, and the din lessened slightly. "Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands." He waited as they exchanged surprised looks, but put their papers and books back in their bags. He then led them down towards the staff room.
They turned a corner and saw Peeves stuffing a keyhole with chewing gum. With a mental sigh, Remus slowly approached the floating poltergeist, who looked up, his translucent face breaking into a look of sheer glee. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin," he taunted. Remus rolled his eyes, but managed to maintain his pleasant expression. "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you, Peeves," he suggested agreeably. "Mr. Filch wont be able to get in to his brooms."
Peeves responded with a sputtering raspberry, and Remus sighed, removing his wand. It was a long time since he had seen Peeves, but the animosity he felt for the spirit had not lessened, and now, he was in a position of authority. "This is a useful little spell," he said, in his "teaching voice", as it had been christened many years ago, disguising the vindictive joy he felt at finally being able to exact his revenge. "Please watch closely."
He preformed the spell easily, feeling some small amount of satisfaction as the chewing gum rocketed up the nasty ghost's lucid nose, and thanked one of the students for his exclamation of delight. He then led them the rest of the way, sensing the heightened respect and awe emanating from the children. He opened the door to the staff room and ordered them inside. But they paused just over the threshold, and peering over their heads, Remus saw why.
Severus Snape was seated in a low armchair, regarding the class with an air of disgust and disdain – an air that increased as Remus came into sight. This is really, really not my day, Remus thought, turning to close the door.
"Leave it open, Lupin," Snape said, rising to his feet. "I'd rather not witness this." He swooped out of the room like an overgrown bat, pausing at the door, his voice snide. "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear." A short, rather pudgy boy, presumably the object of Snape's ridicule, flushed red, and Remus observed how much he resembled Peter. He raised his eyebrows. "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first part of the operation," he said, defending the young boy as he'd always done with Peter. "And I am sure he will perform admirably." Snape's lip curled into that familiar look of derision, and he swept out of the room, closing the door with a perfunctory snap.
Remus proceeded to explain the lesson to the nervous students, smiling assuredly as Neville stepped forward to confront the Snape – Boggart. He nearly lost it and burst out laughing when Snape appeared in the lacy green dress, but managed to keep control. He watched idly as each student took their turns as he called out their names. Most of their fears were creatures – a banshee, a mummy, things like that. He started at Ron's enormous spider, watching as it rolled across the classroom to come to a halt at Harry's feet.
Shit, Remus thought. I'm gonna have Voldemort appear in the middle of the room. He leapt forward, praying the Boggart did not materialize as Sirius again – or the wolf. "Here!" he shouted, attracting the creature's attention. Please, please, please…
He was never more relieved to see the moon glittering above him. "Riddikulus," he said, calm and collected. The Boggart turned into a cockroach and fell to the floor. "Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" he encouraged. The boy hurried forward, shouting, "Riddikulus!" There was a flash of Snape in the green dress, but Neville laughed triumphantly, and the Boggart exploded, wisps of smoke fading into the air.
* * *
Time passed, and Remus was quite surprised at the rumours circulating the school – his was the most popular class? And yet, it seemed real enough. There was never anyone late, all homework was turned in on time, and the students sat with awed expressions, waiting for him to share his pearls of wisdom. It was an amazing and frightening feeling, really. No one – not even the rest of the Marauders – had hung on his every word like his pupils did; hungry for everything he could give them. It was so different from the discrimination he was used to living through.
But all was not right. This past moon had been particularly awful. Moony could somehow sense his mate, though Remus was almost positive that he was nowhere near the school. But that hadn't stopped the wolf's desires.
He's running, searching, smelling. He's here, somewhere close by. Feel him, smell him. Find him…
He shook himself from the daydream, aware of a knocking on the door. Rising quickly, he opened it to find a slightly smiling Snape awaiting him. "Come, Lupin." He beckoned imperiously. "Dumbledore wants you. Your dog is back in the castle." He sneered; reveling in the swift paling of Remus's face, but the whispered, "Sirius" went thankfully unnoticed. The sneer quickly turned to a look of deep disgust and suspicion. "And I wonder – how did he manage to get in? Inside help, perhaps?"
Remus snarled. "Get out of the way before I tear you apart," he hissed, allowing his inner turmoil to seep through for a second. Then he was off and running, locating Dumbledore with his acute senses. He skidded to a stop in front of the sad looking older man. The portrait of the Fat Lady was empty, but this was not the cause for the wistful expression on the Headmaster's face. No, Remus was quite sure that it had something to do with the fact that the canvas was torn to shreds, chunks hanging off, scraps littering the floor.
"He was here," he said. It was not a question, but Dumbledore nodded all the same. "Yes," he said simply.
"Is he still here?"
"I don't know. That is what you must find out."
He needed nothing more. Once again running, he set out for the mostly likely place. The place the others would never think to look. The South Tower.
* * *
He arrived out of breath, his heart pounding out a rapid tattoo against his ribs. "Si – Sirius?" The question floated into the crisp Halloween air, but nothing replied. The Tower was empty. Remus dropped to his knees, hands gripping in his hair. He'd lost him again. And he wasn't even sure that it wasn't what he wanted.
This night is too much, he thought dimly, his face pressed into the cool stones of the floor. It's been twelve years, to the day, and he chooses tonight to make his appearance – and disappearance. Did he do it on purpose – or has he just lost track of time? A cold, mirthless laugh bubbled harshly in his throat. That would be so like him…
"But no…not even Sirius could be that cruel," he said aloud. He murdered his best friends and betrayed you, his thoughts reminded him. That's not cruel?
Wait. Something was here – or at least, had been. Not for the first time in his life, Remus wished he could transform at will. Despite his heightened senses, his canine nose was obviously more powerful. Still...it was here. Faint, but detectable, different, yet the same. He was here.
A sob choked from his throat, regardless of his attempts to keep it buried within. "Oh, Sirius, where are you?" His fingers trailed across the expanse of stones until they found what they searched for. One particular rock, worn smooth by three years polishing. A series of grooves decorated its centre, spelling out their message for all eternity.
Sirius Black.
Remus Lupin.
Their own private etching into the rock of time. A reminder for those to come, of who they were and what they meant. Perhaps childish, perhaps futile, but it served its purpose. Remus rose to examine the scratches. All these years – they were sure to have worn away by now. But no, the words looked as fresh and recent as that fateful night they carved them out. The night they mated.
Why?
And then he saw it. It was almost invisible – indeed, if he hadn't had his face so close to it, he wouldn't have seen it. But there it was – a scattering of fine pebbles, with some larger fragments mixed in. Upon close inspection, it was revealed that the words had been scratched out with something less precise than the Cutting Charm they had used. Something like a knife…
Could it be possible? Could he still care?
~TBC~
*practicing hypnosis* You will review…you will review…is it working?