Author's Note**: Hey y'all! Sup?? Nothing much, eh? Wish I could say the same for myself…………………..heh, neways, before I cast into a long rant bout my damned scool, let's begin shall we? I would lyk to write a make a lil correction. After going thru my last chappie, I saw that I had said that there would be no Hogwarts. I have decided to change that as I was completely delusional wen I was writing that. LOL, no seriously, it was a conventional error. I mean to say evn tho there is no Marauders, ther is a Hogwarts. Sori! *sweatdrop*

Yes, let's move on, shall we?

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Chapter 2

Moony and Padfoot

        Remus cringed in the chair. A formidable looking witch was entering the kitchen, a smaller boy in tow. At first she took no notice of the little werewolf, sitting in the corner, on a dusty chair. Sirius shot him a warning glance and Remus at once realized that this must be his mother.

        Mr. Black got up to greet his wife and summon the house elf, Kreacher. Mrs. Black magicked a chair for the younger boy next to her and sat down beside Sirius, giving him a little hug. "Well, then, Alphard's told me everything. Where is it?" she asked.

        Sirius rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably in reply as Mr. Black looked at him sharply. "Well, Mother," he began, but never had a chance to finish for Mrs. Black cut in midway.

         "What? What is it?" Mrs. Black asked again in what was fast becoming an angry tone of voice. "You didn't buy a broomstick did you?? You-"

        Mr. Black intervened. "Sheila, you may want to sit down for this-"

        "I am sitting down!" Mrs. Black replied, her voice torn between apprehension and anxiety. "What is it, Astin? What has Siri done this time?"

        "He- er- well, we were at the auction, you see, and Siri was supposed to get himself a broomstick- Silver Arrow, you know- and then he changed his mind and bought something else. As I did owe him a birthday present I saw it fit to-"

        "Astin, will you just tell me what is it!?" Mrs. Black asked again through clenched teeth. Sirius answered this time, not realizing the impact of his words.

        "Well take a look for yourself, Mother. He's sitting over there!" he said, pointing to the stool in the corner. Mrs. Black whipped her head around, her eyes widened in surprise, confusion on her face.

        "But- but- he's a – he's a human. You couldn't possibly have bought him at an auction…………………………….unless…………." she said, comprehension finally dawning on her, "unless……………………..oh! Astin, you didn't! You couldn't have possibly allowed this!!!!!!! A- a half breed!!!!!!"

        "Aww, Mother, relax! He's not a half-breed, he's only a werewolf-"

        There was a palpable silence in which Mrs. Black ogled at Sirius as though he were speaking a mixture of Troll and Mermish.

        And the din that followed Sirius's statement had to be amongst the biggest that had ever been created at the Black family mansion. Mrs. Black's enraged voice bounced all over the mansion. She was pulling at hair in frustration, the younger boy was hovering beside her, obviously torn between amusement and his mother's fury. Mr. Black was trying to sit Mrs. Black down and during all of this,

        "-a werewolf, I ask you!!!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING BOY??????!!!!!!!!"

        "-and I'm sure he will take good care of the little creature-" Mr. Black was saying, indirectly holding his furious wife down.

         Amidst all of the commotion, Sirius crept over to Remus, comforting the frightened werewolf.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Much later *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "And have you even thought about how we're going to take care of his sickness come full moon, Sirius?? Honestly, you are no longer a child; you ought to have thought about the repercussions for your actions! Where will he live?"

        "In our house, of course," came the indignant reply. Mrs. Black was getting impatient with her son's lack of understanding for the situation.

        "I mean at full moon! Esmerelda certainly will not want to play chaperone to a werewolf, for heavens' sake! Never thought about that, did you??" Sirius mumbled something softly. Mrs. Black laughed in contempt. Snorting would have been most unlady-like. "Did you honestly think that I would ever let my son be in close proximity to a werewolf while he is in his alter form?? The creature will have to go, Sirius!"

        Sirius stood up from the table, banging his chair against the wall in the process. His eyes were shining with tears, which were unknowingly breaking his mother's heart. "FINE! If Moony goes then so do I!!!!!!! He's now part of the family and you have to love him, like you would me!" Sirius's voice broke as he ran out of the sitting room and to his room, sobbing, passing Remus, who was sitting in the kitchen.

        Mrs. Black shook her head in exasperation. Mr. Black, who was seated in the shadows during the entire conversation spanning half-an-hour, a personal record for Sirius being the longest time he had ever sat doing nothing except talking, put a hand on his wife's shoulders. "He's given that- that- that-thing a name!" she said, disbelievingly.

        Mr. Black consoled his wife lovingly. "I suppose all us Black men are a bit rash." He said conceedingly. "Let the werewolf stay, Sheila. Can't you see how much it means to Sirius? You weren't there. You didn't see him. Lucius was bidding for him too. But it was as if Sirius were fighting a battle. We'll think of something for his ailment."

        Mrs. Black sighed. "How come I'm always the bad guy in these things?" Mr. Black smiled. He could see his wife waver under Sirius's behavior and his notions. Finally she relented. "Fine, the ruddy creature can stay. But, Astin, I would be more at peace if we hired someone to train it up a bit. Oh I know he's undergone that at his concentration camp," she said, seeing Mr. Black open his mouth, "but he's going to be in a human environment now. I want him trained more extensively."

        "Of course we will. We'll take him and Siri shopping first thing tomorrow morning and I'll contact Raistlin about any trainers in the area. For now, do you want to go give Siri the good news or should I?"

        Mrs. Black tried to look unhappy but she failed. "I think we should both tell him. And- and- and – oh good heavens!- bring that werewolf up as well."

        Sirius was setting up a mock Quidditch game with his full collection of model brooms (and growing every year) when he heard a soft knock and his mother's voice asking for permission to come in. It was with extreme reluctance that he crossed the room to open his door.

        "Siri, darling, me and your father have reached a decision." Mrs. Black said as she entered the spacious bedroom. Sirius braced himself for the bad news. He wasn't going to go down without a fight! "We have decided to let your little pet here stay." Even if that meant he had to-

        WHAT??

        Sirius's eyes widened as he saw little Remus enter the room and smile shyly. He let out a whoop and hugged his parents after hugging Remus. Remus seemed highly embarrassed at this gesture, and blushed.       

        "Thanks, Mother! You won't regret this!"

        "Oh I don't doubt I will."

        "-Remus will be the best werewolf ever, won't you??" he said, almost threateningly. Remus nodded, eyes wide. What else was he supposed to say under Sirius's death glare? And though he may not have understood what was going on, he was smart enough to realize now would be the appropriate time for a thanks.

        Amidst Sirius shouting with glee, he approached Mrs. Black. "Thank you for letting me stay, Mrs. Black." He said in a quiet voice, looking up at her with his malleable amber eyes. Mrs. Black couldn't help but smile as she patted Remus on the head. How she would regret everything, only time would tell.

        "Now then, it's getting late, Siri. We haven't arranged a room for your pet yet so he'll have to sleep in the living room for tonight. We'll have his chambers ready for him tomorrow." Said Mrs. Black, deflating poor Sirius's mood, but inflating Remus's. He had seen the living room while passing to go to the kitchen with Sirius and his father. It was decked with soft, squishy armchairs and sofas and one fat beige pouffe. Sleeping there would be heaven compared to his concentration camp.

        "But, Mother!" Sirius was whining again, "Moony doesn't want to go to sleep yet, do you Moony?" Remus looked around in a hurry. Was Sirius addressing him………………Moony, was it?? He looked in surprise, rather than indignation.

        "Uh………………" he seemed unable to say anything, still dwelling on his new name. Moony. It had a nice ring to it.

        So Mr. Black answered for him instead. He was very grateful. "Now, Siri, I think your little friend here is quite tired after the whole day. Don't you think you should let him rest? And off to bed with you as well, young man. We'll send Esmerelda up as soon as Remus is in bed."

        Sirius huffed in annoyance. He wanted Esmerelda to tuck him in first, not Remus. But then he saw the little werewolf smiling silently, waving to him and he couldn't help but smile back. His parents shut the door, but Sirius could still see Remus's hesitant smile before him. Crawling into his bed, since his pyjamas were already on, he closed his eyes, making a mental list of things that he and his new friend would do for tomorrow.

1) Go to buy clothes and such at Diagon Alley

2) Teach Moony Quidditch

3) Give him Schooner……………….

4) Tease *yawn* house…………………….elves……………….*yawn*

        Remus lay in bed, or rather the sofa as his make-shift bed, clad freshly laundered pyjamas. They were supposed to be Sirius's but he didn't mind one bit. There were no holes in them and they smelled crisp and clean. What more could he have asked for?

        In the background, he could dimly hear Esmerelda reading to him. He liked her very much. She was a young creature, who looked to be no older than about twenty-five with think, long blond hair that was tied in a neat braid down her back and genial brown eyes. She was sweet-tempered and Remus enjoyed the sound of her voice. It was lulling him to sleep.

         Not that he would've been able to stay awake now that his stomach was pleasantly full and he was snuggled in the warmest of blankets possible.

         Remus didn't realize when his eyes closed. He felt a soft hand brushing stray hairs from his face and moist tiers at his cheeks. He unbiddingly smiled. This was his reward. After years of paying for an unknown sin, he was finally getting what he deserved. Love.

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        Little Remus broke out into a cold sweat, tossing and turning, unable to get the downy blankets to stop smothering him.

        He was exactly six years old.

        He had been insubordinate in today's lessons, dangerously insubordinate and now he would have to pay. Dearly.

 

        He landed hard, face down, on the earth, the taste of soil filling his mouth. He got up, unsure of whether he should or not; it might have displayed impudence.

        Gingerly he felt his left cheek. It was throbbing and felt swollen to him. And then, before he had much more time to examine his injuries, someone took him painfully by the hair and shoved him in a wall. But nothing could compare to what he felt next.

        His eyes watered and his entire body screamed. A shackle of silver was being dangled dangerously close to his right ear. His insides writhed with sharp pain as he felt his mind give way, threatening to shut down with the mere pain of it all. He couldn't take it any longer. His brain was protesting to the intense ache of his limbs- he couldn't bear it anymore.

        With his left foot, he bore down on the person holding him. They let out a shriek of pain and he ran, not realizing that he would never be able to escape. He just had one notion and that was to run. Anywhere, just to get away from the blinding pain.

        He was running, running, but wasn't going anywhere. Someone was holding him back. The same person, the wolf inside him noted. And then, that someone picked him up by the scruff of his neck landing a hard slap on the same cheek. This time however, he was being held close to the enchanted fence. The enchanted silver fences.

         The person holding him up was threatening to bring him even closer. He didn't care for the fact that everyone was staring at him. He was edging further now, and abandoning all pretence, he cried out in agony of the sheer pain and terror. They growled something in his ear, but he was too preoccupied with the fact that the silver, which was already having an immense effect on him, was looming horribly close.

        He moaned in pain and soft laughter reached his ears. He was moving closer now- oh, he could not sustain any longer- now even closer……………………a little more and he felt he would surely die-

        Someone was shaking Remus awake gently. They were retrieving him from the tangled mess of the blankets, as he lay sprawled on the floor. It was such a vivid dream that he could've sworn it was happening in real life…………………..The hurting throughout his body was gone however, proof that it had been nothing but a dream. But the terror had been so real………………….

        He was now peering up into twinkling silver eyes. At least they looked to be silver when Sirius was bathed in the moonlight. He seemed concerned.

        "Moony?" he whispered shyly.

        Remus got out of his blankets and put them up on the sofa, while he still sat on the ground with Sirius. "Yes?" he whispered back.

        "Are you alright? I came down for a midnight snack," he looked a bit sheepish at this and Remus grinned at him, "and I heard you thrashing about." He was looking at Remus wide eyed with concern now. "I think you were…………………moaning……………………"

        Remus felt his face grow hot. He hadn't meant for anyone to hear him. Now his only friend in the whole world would think he was being a total prat, getting up about some dream…………………….

        Sirius helped Remus up and though the little boy seemed perplexed at Remus's sudden silence, he brought out something from behind his back. Remus stared. It was a stuffed toy. A stuffed dog, to be more exact.

        It bounded on Remus's lap and connected its fuzzy tongue to his cheek lovingly. Remus laughed as quietly as he could. The dog's tongue was tickling him. "One of my cousins gave it to me. But I always liked the wolf more," Sirius explained, pulling out a stuffed wolf that growled at Remus then cocked his head to the side in confusion. "That's why I call you Moony. It's what I call him." He gestured to the stuffed wolf that was now making it's way across the floor with the stuffed dog.

        The two little boys watched the stuffed dog and the stuffed wolf play with each other for a while. They pulled at each other's ears, making Remus and Sirius laugh. Then Sirius broke the silence. "Moony's the closest of all my stuffed animals, even more than my stuffed snake. He's my best friend. He protects me." Remus smiled to himself. He was invariably honored that Sirius should name him after the closest thing to his heart. It warmed him up greatly and he couldn't help himself from hugging the black haired boy next to him.

        Sirius seemed surprised at first, but then hugged Remus back. In his ear, he whispered, "You can have him, you know." Remus drew back, confused. "The dog, you can have him. He'll protect you, just like Moony protects me. You'll never have bad dreams again."

        Remus couldn't remember when he had last been so happy. He surmised, probably never in the entire span of his sorry existence. He had a best friend, and a protector, a warm house and that great feeling exploding in the pit of his stomach. He would have to think of a name for his new stuffed animal.

        Putting the blankets over his new-found friend, Sirius whispered, "Good night, Moony."

        "Good night, Sirius."

        The dog jumped onto the sofa and positioned beside Remus, among the blankets. Sirius retreated from the living room, Moony at his heels.

        Remus sighed and smiled. Moony. It was starting to grow on him……………………

   

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        The next day found the two boys in the wake of Esmerelda, on a busy street called Diagon Alley. Sirius noted with a flourish the look of immense awe on Remus's face and made it a point to explain each and every single thing. Esmerelda did the shopping while the boys scouted around for things.

        "- that was what I was going to buy," Sirius was saying, pointing to a zooming picture of the Silver Arrow on the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies (it wasn't out in stores yet), "but then I decided I liked you much better." Remus didn't know what to say to this statement, so he contented himself with a nod.

        Esmerelda took the boys into Madame Malkin's Robes For All Occasions next. There, Sirius contented himself with poking fun at Remus, who looked absolutely miserable as the tape measured him and he was made to stand still, enchanted needles poking at him to make the right adjustments.

        Dinner was exceptional. Remus couldn't remember when he had last felt so full; probably never. The house elves treated him like one of the members of the family, bowing and calling him "Sir" making little Remus feel quite important. The only person that was slightly aloof was Sirius's mother but he expected she would get used to him sooner or later.

        For the rest of the evening, Sirius and Remus played together. They battled make-belief dragons and rescued beautiful damsels. They rode on miniature versions of the Quicksilver and BrushSwipe Nine, pretending to be the make-up of Britain's Quidditch team. Remus didn't understand what was going on as far as Quidditch was concerned, but he didn't really care. Sirius had promised to teach him more extensively later and he was having too much of a good time to interrupt with silly queries.

       At around 9, Esmerelda fought the two little boys and whisked them off for a bath and changed them into their pyjamas. Then she took Remus to see his new room.

      It was enormous! There was enough space in here to room 20 little werewolves, he thought. The bed wasn't as big as Sirius nor was the room's size anywhere near his room, but who was Remus to complain? For him, this was already too much. He helped Esmerelda bring his new clothes and the like upstairs into his new room (which was down the hall from Sirius's).

       While Esmerelda tucked Remus into bed, Sirius waited patiently for her in his own room, playing with his stuffed animals. There was a knock at the door, and Sirius got of the floor in alarm, diving into his covers. He wasn't supposed to be out of bed and he knew it. The door opened and it was his father; Sirius tried to seem like he was sleeping as much as possible.

        "Siri?" his father whispered, as he came over to the bed and gently lifted of the blanket from his head.

        Sirius faked a moan. "Yes, Father?"

        "Your mother wanted you to know that your cousins and your aunt and uncle are coming to visit tomorrow morning. You have to wake up extra early. And you have to make sure you keep Remus in check, understand?"

        Sirius nodded, his silver eyes shining in the dark. He was already thinking of all the great things him and his cousins would do, along with Remus of course. He couldn't wait to show them his new friend! 

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Author's Note**: Ok, so that was a strange chapter…….but hey, dun let me influence u! Go ahead and tel me wut u think by reviewing, OK? I live for them!!!!!!!! (if u hadn't noticed already ^^) Sori, but I've decided to keep the explanation for next chapter, wer I can c that it fits in much more nicely!

Neways, cuple- oops my bad- A LOT of ppl need to be named for being such GREAT reviewrs! They r as follows:

heheheh =D: awww, thx!

Vini: *twiddles thumbs and whistles nonchalantly* 2 othr ppl? Wut evr do u mean *tries to look innocent* and "Don't have kittens" is my line! I'm copyrighting it! Ok, no it's not, it's J.K Rowling's line………….but same diff…………lol!

Eccentric Mind: heheheh ^^! Thx for reviewing!

Harry Potter-Malfoy: U kno wut? I simply LUV the loving part too! *evil grin*  that's the best part, lol! But I wan to take this sort of slow, not completely but SORT OF, and show wut Remus is subjected to and sum othr cute and awkward moments. Dun wori, I totally agree with u, and will  b writing that pretty soon!

Ophel: bows down ur wish is my command! Heh

Full Moons Falling: No suggestions *looks downcast* just kidding! U reviewd, and that in itself is a great thing! Thx so much!

Tame: Ur absolutely right. And this chapter u can c how I made Sirius's mother emphasize the word "pet" wen she was referring to Remus. You will see more of that in the next chapter.

Ze Love Machina: *sigh* I wished I wrote well. I dun think I write well, but it's more my ideas u c…………………..

Rachel: hehehehe, Remus and Siri r my lil darlings! AND THER ALL MINE! MUHAHAHA! Heh, sori bout that *remembers she has to share and hands u a Remus plushie* Here you go! Heeee! I can't wait till they grow a bit older too! But evn more, I can't wait till I put them in cute situations! :D

Wow!: LOVING UR NAME! LOL! *Blushes* Hey, thx for such a heartening review!

Fade to Black: Glomp? *looks confused* but thx for the great review!

Janice: THX!

Moonysgurl: Of course! NO WAY am I abandoning this! =D

Emma Lupin: *nods* Yes ma'am! Heh.

Ain: Wel, thx for giving me such a nice review! *blushes*^^

Mysid: *nods* ya! Wen I was writing it, one of my friends suggested I should make Remus Lucius's slave and make it that much harder for Sirius and him to fall in love. But that was too angsty, evn for me, so I didn't bothr. LOVING UR LONG REIVEW! THX!

Chloe-Wagner: I think the best comment I'v received so far was from someone telling me they're really warming up to AU's. Personally, I dun mind AU's but they have to have make sense to be acceptable. Othrwise, they're no fun, dun u agree? Oh, and thx for the great review! *hugs u* heeee

Little Looni Lupin:  Shouldn't it b "Loony Loopy Lupin"? LOL! THX SOO SOO SOO much for ur great review! Me has a lil surprise for u…………………….    

Next Chapter: Sirius's cousins come ovr. Remus encounters Bella and the rest of the gang. They pick on him and make fun of him, unbeknowst to Sirius. Astin explains the auctioning concept and the first glimpse at Remus's werewolf training. WHEW! A lot going on next chapter, eh?

Dun 4 get to review!

JA! n_n