Chapter 2: The Secret is Out
The stillness of the night was disrupted as Remus Lupin, now the age of twenty-seven, awoke from a cavernous sleep. Cold sweat poured down his brow and his eyes blinked fervently as they gazed around the room as if expecting to find a monster lurking in the shadows. His heart pounded in his throat as he recalled the nightmare he had just perceived. Fresh air swept across his face cooling him slightly and allowing him to think. He had observed the worst memory of his childhood; the night he was bitten by the werewolf. His mind raced as to why he would be compelled to remember such a thing. Maybe it was because that only a few days ago, on Halloween night, he had spent his time as a werewolf; and maybe doing so caused this memory to emerge from the depths of his mind. Lupin used the sleeve of his nightshirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead as he sat up in his bed. He looked over to his nightstand and grasped an object, the silhouette of which resembled that of a picture frame. He smiled, something he had not done for some time, before he put the object back into its place on the nightstand. Remus got up from his bed, stretching his drowsiness away. His heart had resumed its gentle thud, now that he had realized that all he had was a nightmare, nothing more. Lupin made his way out of his bedroom, paying no attention to the slight creaks and moans of the old floor of his home. He had lived in this home when he was bitten by the werewolf and here he has remained for nearly twenty years. A long time to spend in a little less than a "hole in the wall", as the saying goes. But he respected his mother's wishes and remained in the Lupin house, no matter how drafty and un-home like it became. The home was filled with bad memories and horrible feelings; it was an absolutely dreadful place to live.
Remus entered his kitchen going straight to the icebox. He was still smiling recalling the image in the picture frame. It was the only thing that seemed to give him joy in these dark days. The picture was of himself and a few of his friends, three of which he loved the most; James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and of course Sirius Black. Although at this present time he wasn't exactly in favor with Peter and Sirius. For all three of them, Remus, Sirius, and Peter, had accused each other of being a spy. A spy to a loathsome and malicious wizard who christened himself Lord Voldemort; and for some reason this wizard seemed to be after James and his family. It is for this reason that James and his family are being protected by a powerful charm; one in which Sirius is the key to their survival.
Lupin opened the icebox, reaching in for the eggs and bacon, the smile still present across his princely visage. A tap at the window startled him, it didn't take much to frighten him these days, and after the return of that nightmare it would take even less. He peeked over the top of the icebox and let out a sigh of relief as he noticed a very handsome tawny owl sitting on the dejected windowsill. He closed the icebox and walked ardently toward the window. He lifted the window, gritting his teeth at the screeching sound that emanated from it. The owl back away allowing him to complete his task before stepping back toward him, a trivial looking letter clasped in it's beak. Lupin took the letter from the owl and slipped a couple knuts in the pouch that was tied around its talon before watching it leave his home. The envelope's front was blank, it didn't even have his name on it, or his address; it was a wonder the owl got it to him. He turned the envelope over and was surprised that there was no seal. Whoever had written this letter to him had done so in a hurry. He opened the back of the envelope and removed the letter from it. Lupin noticed that the white parchment was folded sloppily in a rush of urgency. He unfolded the parchment and looked to the words written in murky red ink; there were only four. Lupin struggled for breath as he read the words aloud to himself, "The secret is out." He dropped the letter immediately running to his closet. Panic raced through him, much like it did the night he was bitten. His heart had returned to its space in his throat as he opened the closet door. In the closet, there was a broom and some very shabby looking robes. He pulled the robes quickly over his head and grabbed the broom. Lupin made his way into his bedroom and grabbed his wand from his bedside table and then the picture frame. He looked at the picture again, only this time there was no smile, simply a look of wrath. He placed the wand and the picture into a pocket just inside his robes. Remus made his way to the front door of his home. He grasped the doorknob with a pale hand, and turned to glance around his home.
"I'll be back mum", he said in memory of his dead mothers wishes, "I'll only be gone a moment. I promise." And with that he opened the door and walked outside. The sun hit his face revealing exactly how pallid and feeble he really was. He mounted his broom and kicked off from the ground souring into the air, a new wave of ferment coming to rest in his heart. One thought echoed throughout his mind; a thought that nothing could have prepared him for. Sirius told. One of his best friends, his confidante, Sirius Black was the spy.
(Sorry it took so long for this chapter people, I've been a bit busy. Hopefully if this story is liked I could keep going with it, but if not I might remove it and start another. Just so you'll know I'm writing The Marauders and the Goblin Rebellion with my friend SiriusBlack161. We've already written a treatment, which is just the six dollar word for plot; to read that search for "SiriusBlack161" or search "The Marauders and the Goblin Rebellion Treatment". To all who have read this story thanks for being patient with me.)